Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is working to improve care for long-term ventilation patients while freeing up beds in its intensive care unit.
Patients on life support occupy six beds in the ICU now. These patients suffer from a myriad of chronic illnesses including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS disease, to muscular dystrophy.
Francine Stadtler, co-ordinator of the long-term mechanical ventilation program, says it's not a hospitable environment for a sick patient in stable condition. "Not able to necessarily sleep because they're getting the noises, and the alarms, and everything that's going on in the ICU," she says. "It's not an ideal place for someone to live."
Taking care of long-term ventilation patients can require a high degree of skill so Stadtler says the hospital is setting up transition beds so caregivers can learn how to care for their loved ones before leaving the hospital. "There's also support from a community respiratory therapist that's able to go into the house and help them."
The hospital also wants to expand supports in assisted living facilities and in the community.
