INDIANAPOLIS – St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, is the first in the state and one of 11 hospitals in the nation to offer a new ventilator system by Philips Respironics. The new ventilator system provides a "Speaking Mode" software option that does not require an external valve for patients to speak. The new system also features Auto-Trak Sensitivity designed to enhance patient comfort, ventilation effectiveness and reduce patient work of breathing.
Douglas, 51, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to The St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana for emergency cardiovascular care. After experiencing further complications, he was transferred to St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital where he has benefited from the new “speaking” ventilator.
"I am so thankful to be able to speak during my recovery," said Douglas. "It means the world to me to be able to talk to my wife and kids. My son can come visit me, sit on the edge of my bed and I can still do my duty as dad and help him with his homework."
St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital serves the needs of medically complex patients who require an extended hospital stay. Providing this new cutting-edge technology enables patients to communicate with loved ones and clinicians, and improves their overall quality of care for the patients.
While on the new ventilators, patients can talk when a clinician selects the speaking-mode option on the device’s touch screen. A "breathing" tube inserted in the airway directs air flow into the lungs, administering positive pressure, oxygen and breathing treatments to support and/or control breathing.
There is an inflatable balloon cuff surrounding the tube in the airway, which blocks airflow around the outside of the tube, thus preventing the patient from talking. Once the clinician fully deflates the balloon cuff, the ventilator activates the speaking-mode option. This closes the ventilator valve, keeping it closed during the exhalation phase. This action redirects airflow around the deflated balloon cuff on the tube, through the airway and out through the mouth. As air passes through the vocal cords, speech is returned.
Previously, the only way a patient could talk while on a ventilator was to use an external valve added to the circuit tubing, which requires opening the circuit to air each time. This process increases risk in development of an infection, and is not tolerated well by patients. With the new ventilators, a patient can talk without this risk for infection, and all adjustments are made automatically without user adjustment.
Nancy Hodson, manager of Clinical Support Systems at St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, said the new ventilators are extremely important to quality of patient care. She emphasizes the psychological component for providing a patient with the ability to talk and communicate with clinicians, family and friends.
"From a clinician standpoint, it increases the patient care because we can have two-way communication about their care," said Hodson. "During a patient’s time of healing they also want and need to be able to talk to their loved ones. This new technology provides them with that gift."
The long-term acute care ministry invested in state-of-the-art technology for their facilities in both Indianapolis and Lafayette.
St.Vincent Seton Specialty hospital is a premier long-term acute care hospital dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients in their journey back to a good health condition. The faith-based ministry has recently been accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s premier healthcare accreditation entity. The facility has served as a healing gateway between general acute care and rehabilitation for more than 12 years.
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About St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital
St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital is a long-term acute care facility, with two convenient locations in Indianapolis and Lafayette. Both facilities serve medically complex inpatients who require extended hospital stays of 25 days or more. In Indianapolis, the location encompasses a 66,000-square-foot hospital with 74 beds. In Lafayette, the location includes 30 beds. Both locations offer quality services including respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care and dietitian services. St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital is featured with modernized private rooms designed for specialized care for patients and families.
