Atlanta Legal Nurse Consultant Listens Up At Respiratory Compromise Talk

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta legal nurse consultant Liz Buddenhagen, RN, attended a presentation by Jennifer Fruitticher, RN, Clinical Product Specialist at Medtronic, regarding respiratory compromise and carbon dioxide monitoring in Athens, Georgia on May 23, 2018.
 
Respiratory Compromise
 
Respiratory compromise is a state in which there is a high likelihood of decompensation into respiratory insufficiency, respiratory failure and respiratory arrest or death but in which specific interventions might prevent or mitigate decompensation. Interventions include continuous monitoring and therapies.
 
There are multiple conditions which can lead to respiratory compromise such as low oxygenation, high carbon dioxide and sleep related breathing problems like sleep apnea.
 
Research has indicated that the underlying cause of many in-hospital adverse events is respiratory in nature. Studies evaluating the relationship between abnormal vital sign observations and patient outcome have shown the respiratory parameters are the most predictive of adverse outcomes.
 
Respiratory compromise imposes substantial burdens on patient health and hospital costs.
Data sets have estimated the incidence of acute respiratory compromise in the US was 44,551 (per year). The mortality rate for patients with acute respiratory compromise was 39.4%.
 
Decline may be preventable with better monitoring. Multiple studies have evaluated the utility of integrating continuous monitoring of patient respiratory status to increase early identification of respiratory compromise and improve outcome.
 
Surveillance monitoring in low acuity settings projected to improve detection and intervention earlier for better outcomes with respiratory compromise are available and recommended. These include continuous carbon dioxide monitoring, continuous respiratory rate monitoring, continuous oxygen saturation monitoring and remote patient monitoring.
 
The carbon dioxide, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation monitoring can be done at the bedside and remotely. Studies show that remote patient monitoring technology can reduce never events and cardiopulmonary arrests.
 
Athens Area American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
 
The Athens Area AACN was started in 2005 by Margie Nicolaus, RN, Critical Care Nurse. The chapter is active throughout the year with educational dinner meetings and twice a year 3 hour educational symposiums held at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, Georgia. 2 Athens Area AACN members attend the national NTI Critical Care conference annually and some members attend the Regional Conference held in the fall in Atlanta.
 
Atlanta Legal Nurse Consultant
 
Liz Buddenhagen, RN, has been assisting Atlanta attorneys since 2006 with legal cases involving medical issues. For more information email Liz@BuddenhagenLNC.com , view www.Legal-Nurse-Consultant-LNC.com or call 770-725-2997.
 

Contact Information

Liz Buddenhagen

Principal

Buddenhagen and Associates

(1) 7707252997

Liz@BuddenhagenLNC.com