Many of our patients are on ventilators, but people who aren’t familiar with these devices might have some questions.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), ventilators are “machines that act as bellows to move air in and out of your lungs. ” The physician sets the pressure and amount and frequency of oxygen delivery, through a fitted face / nasal mask, or a breathing tube (tracheostomy).
This article, also from NHLBI, has some helpful tips for families with a patient on a ventilator. It’s a good idea to always keep a phone charged for emergencies, to keep spare batteries in case of a power outage, and to alert electric and utility companies that there is a ventilator user in the house.
We always ensure our patients have other medical devices in the house such as an ambu bag, suction machine, pulse oximeter (which measures the oxygen level in the blood), oxygen, humidifier, and back up batteries to manage their cares.
Ventilators are just one of the many medical complexities we have experience with. We are proud to be a leader in Minnesota home care, improving the quality of life for our patients and making a measurable difference in their lives every day. If you’re interested in joining our team, you can learn more about us, apply for our open positions or email us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Our stock photo shows a ventilator attached to the back of the wheelchair, for more mobility.