Nice site for Pt Ed

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

OK, I hope this isn't considered advertising, but we had an inservice by Apria Homecare today about use of O2 in the home, what Medicare covers, etc... It was extremely informative.

Anyway, the CRTT who gave the lecture gave us phenominal handouts, and told us to check out their web site, which has wonderful pt ed info!! That is why I am posting it here...

http://www.apria.com

Anyway, I was impressed with this agency very much, if a pt travels, they have over 300 sites where they will deliver O2 to a hotel, casinos, etc... They are very specific with what they want from you in order to start the ball rolling, and they will not start care for a pt w/o that info, for safety sake. They also do enteral feedings, and have wonderful pt ed booklets on that too.

Just want to say I get no personal benefit from giving this plug, the main reason I am sharing it here is that 1) They have offices all over the states, 2) they have a great web site just full of info for pt's, you can recommend pt's of ours to check out the site, they have good links, etc...

Just curious though, has anyone worked with them for O2? They also do home infusion, and in the current state of unhappiness at my agency, I wonder if they were wise to bring in a competitor to give an inservice and lure away nurses!!!

[KP RN]

Thanks for posting the website, Hoolahan! Very informative.

Do you think you will consider changing jobs?

I made a switch about 6 weeks ago, and I am so much HAPPIER!!!

YAY!!!

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

I don't think so KP, I know exactly what I want. I want to work close to home. I want to be able to flex my hours in summer. I want flexibility in the school year. No other agency around me serves only one county, so my travel is minimal, and the way things are going, I am moving up the seniority ladder fast! I am looking for stability now, I've changed too many times in the past. I don't want to have to learn something all new....yet. I am thinking when school starts next year if there is a hospice position open, I may try that for something different. But....never say never, right?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Have worked with Phila Apria center for 15 years... provide better service than some agencies I've seen. They have gone thru numerous re-organization's and have been stable x 5 years.

It all depends on the staff they have. Previously, because so large, have seen minimal follow-up on maintenance of O2 concentrators and cleaning/replacement of filters + tubing. Good liquid O2 support with regularly scheduled visits. Are national, so great for traveling clients...not the one's I typically see in home care.

Found this new organization:

National Home Oxygen Patients Association

http://www.homeoxygen.org/public.html

Best bet:

Develop a rapport with 2-3 O2 providers in your area and get on first name basis with customer service reps who handle day-to-day orders. I usually refer patients based on location to clients home and clients needs.

Remember, all clients have right to choose/change their provider due to lousy service even if on a HMO.

[kids]

The do a pretty good job on our vents, O2 etc...

I just wish they would get us the supplies we order!!!

Yes, we use their own stock (M) number but they have outsourced the supplies to a company I will call pink-squigle...who repeatedly sends the totally wrong item (not even a similar 'M' number.

Somebody want to tell me precisely what it is one suctions with a

14 french sterile cath and glove kit?

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Horses?? LOL! Actually, I think it's adults, but if my memory (and these types of critical care details are fading into the background for me) serves, we used to use 12 Fr or 10, not sure anymore! But certainly not a child!!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Somebody want to tell me precisely what it is one suctions with a

[b ]14 french[/b] sterile cath and glove kit? glove kit?

An adult with #7 Trach size!

Check out Suctioning a Tracheostomy

This is from Aarons Tracheostomy Page...great site!

...The size of the suction catheter depends on the size of the tracheostomy tube. Size 6, 8 or 10 French are typical sizes for neonatal and pediatric trach tubes. The larger the number, the larger the diameter of the suction catheter. Use a catheter with an outer diameter that is about half the inner diameter of the artificial airway-this will allow air to enter around it during suctioning. You can also compute the catheter size with this formula: Multiply the artificial airway's diameter in millimeters by two. For example, 8 mm X 2 = 16, so a 16 French catheter. Also see Tracheostomy Sizing Chart for recommended catheter sizes for specific Bivona and Shiley pediatric tracheostomy tubes.

http://tracheostomy.com/english/suction.htm

Tracheostomy Sizing Chart

http://tracheostomy.com/english/resources/table.htm

P.S. Hoolahan...add link to your home health site.

Kids...hope you've sent a nice letter to Apria informing them of your supply problems "on multiple occasions." That helped me get one specific person to deal with at DME company for problem solving.

Also sent a letter to Keystome Mercy Health Plan ( local MA HMO plan) re taking over ONE HOUR ON HOLD on weekends to reach a customer service person after they had changed staffing patterns---occured over 4 weeks this winter. Two weeks later, back to only 10 minute wait time.