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Deer River HealthCare Center offers long-term ventilator dependent care Deer River, MN Deer River HealthCare Center recently added long-term ventilator dependent care at Homestead Rehabilitation and Living Center. Deer River HealthCare Center is the only medical facility in Itasca County to offer complete long-term ventilator dependent care.According to Mike Vaneps, DRHC Respiratory Therapist, "Offering this therapy program is nice for the community. People donıt have to go all the way down to the Cities to have their loved ones cared for." Vaneps joined the Deer River HealthCare team in July 2003, after spending 16 years at the Mayo Clinic as a Neuro-Intensive Care Specialist. He commented that "The most rewarding part of my job is helping my patients achieve the highest possible quality of life and keeping them healthy from respiratory complications." Vaneps helped bring long-term mechanical ventilation (MV) to Deer River HealthCare Center. He trained the nursing staff in sub-acute respiratory care, making on-site, long-term MV available for the first time to Itasca County and its surrounding communities. "We are fortunate to have Mike Vaneps on our staff, who brings his expertise in Respiratory Therapy." said Jeffry Stampohar, CEO, Deer River HealthCare Center. "We realize the importance of being close to family and friends, which is a significant part of the healing process," added Stampohar. "Our long-term ventilator dependent care program allows patients and their families to spend more time together, assured that they are receiving quality care in their own community." What is Mechanical Ventilation? A ventilator (also known as a respirator) is used to mechanically assist breathing by delivering air to the lungs. MV is used to optimize a patientıs breathing until they recover from their respiratory problem, or, in severe cases, keep the patient breathing long-term if they can no longer breathe on their own. A test that measures a patientıs quality of breathing is often used to determine the need for MV. The average healthy person reaches arterial oxygen saturation levels of between 97-98%. Arterial oxygen saturation levels below 88% indicate respiratory distress, making MV necessary. MV is usually delivered by an endotracheal tube connected to a ventilator. Who Needs Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation? Long-term MV dependence is most often caused by spinal cord injuries, neck fractures, or neuromuscular diseases such as polio or ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrigıs disease). Damage or degeneration to the nerve cells in the spinal cord affects involuntary and voluntary muscles, including those used to breathe. In cases of spinal cord injuries affecting neck vertebrae C3, C4 or C5, communication between the brain and the lung muscles is interrupted. Full recovery of damaged nerve cells is unlikely, creating dependence on MV. Actor Christopher Reeve, who became paralyzed following a spinal cord injury, was dependent on mechanical ventilation. After paralysis, many individuals must use MV for the rest of their lives. This makes high quality patient care, including maintenance of ventilation machines in a fully supportive medical environment, extremely important. Spacious, private rooms are available at Homestead Rehabilitation and Living Center, so residents can remain comfortable and close to home. Vaneps adds, "This is a great place for patients and their families because the hospital and doctors are available 24 hours a day." Homestead Rehabilitation and Living Center offers many advantages because of its on-site hospital and clinic. Tests, such as measurement of arterial blood gas, are sometimes needed to gauge how well the lungs are functioning. Results of this test are attained quickly from the laboratory at Deer River HealthCare Center so that respiratory care techniques can be adjusted immediately. In addition, the rehabilitation team at DRHC works with the patient to improve physical and occupational function and treat problems with speech or swallowing, to maximize patient mobility and independence. Other support services at Homestead Rehabilitation and Living Center include social workers, pharmaceutical, surgical and hospice care. In addition to long-term mechanical ventilation, Vaneps also helped introduce the Bi-pap machine in 2004, a noninvasive ventilator which is used to substitute or optimize a patientıs own breathing during respiratory distress. "The Bi-pap has saved lives here at Deer River HealthCare Center," said Vaneps. "It has reduced the need to transport patients to Duluth or the Twin Cities, away from their families." Both the Bi-pap ventilator and long-term ventilator dependent care are offered at Deer River HealthCare Center. See your doctor for a referral or contact DRHC directly at 218-246-2900 for more information.
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