Respiratory Department

Department Overview:

1- History

The Respiratory Therapy Department was first established at Tawam Hospital in 1981. It started with four staff therapists who are all registered by NBRC (National Board of Respiratory Care, USA) and CSRT (Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists).

In the late 1990’s, with the increased number of patients and services, staffing increased to fourteen therapists and additional four CCHS graduates who are either registered or certified by NBRC.

2- Present

The department offers a variety of services which include: 24-hr coverage of the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), HDU (High Dependency Unit), Pediatric ICU (PICU), Neonatal Unit, ward and ER (Emergency Room). In addition, PFT (Pulmonary Function Testing) lab tests are being done at the Polyclinic and the recently opened sleep laboratory provides full polysomnography test. The department also provides bedside bronchoscopy and percutaneous tracheostomy assistance in the ICU.

Tawam Hospital created the first respiratory therapy homecare position in the UAE, to service the Al-Ain community.

Staffing

At present there are forty-four staffs in the respiratory therapy department. All staffs are either registered or certified under the NBRC, CSRT or graduates of Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy in the Philippines. The staffs are multinational coming from the U.S.A., Canada and the Philippines.

Scope of Services

► ADULT ICU

The new Medical/Surgical ICU has a total of twenty beds, two of which are negative pressure rooms for isolation. Pediatric patients are also admitted in this unit pending completion of the new 6-bed PICU. We extend our services to patients with various respiratory diseases, cardiac, neuromuscular disorders, trauma and post-op patient that require ventilatory support and close monitoring.

► HDU (High Dependency Unit

The new HDU has a total of eleven beds that serves as a step-down to ICU.

 

► PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit)

The new PICU is in the process of completion. It has a total of six beds.

 

►Pediatric Chronic Care Unit

It has a total of eight beds. These patients are ventilator dependent, some of them since birth with ages ranging from 1-7 years old.

 

» Duties and Responsibilities

• Ventilator management (invasive and non-invasive)

• Arterial blood gas sampling and analysis

• Administration of respiratory medications

• Bronchopulmonary hygiene

• Assist with intubation, bedside bronchoscopy, and percutaneous tracheostomy

• Administration and monitoring of medical gases

  • Oxygen (O₂)

  • Inhaled Nitric oxide (iNO)

  • Heliox (HeO₂)

• Aerosol administration

• Inter- and intra-hospital transport of ventilated patients

• Patient assessment and chest x-ray review with radiologist

• Orientation of new staffs

• Active participation in patient rounds

►NNU (Neonatal Unit)

The new NNU has a total of thirty beds, eighteen of which are Level III (critical care), two isolation rooms and ten beds for special care unit. The RT department provides basic and advanced respiratory care to term, preterm, and very low birth weight neonates.

The NNU is equipped with ventilators for invasive and non-invasive ventilatory support like Drager Babylog 8000 Plus^® with high frequency feature, Evita 4^®, Sensormedics 3100A^® for high frequency oscillator ventilation. Infant Flow Advance^® and SiPAP^® for non-invasive ventilation. High flow nasal cannula using the Vapotherm^® is also available.

» Duties and Responsibilities:

• Respond to all high risk deliveries in L&D and OR
• Assist in intubation and help resuscitate neonates.
• Transport via transport incubator-ventilator and/or Neopuff^®
• Ventilator management according to NNU protocols
• Assist in the administration of exogeneous surfactant to premies
• Administer nebulized bronchodilator, steroids and metered- dose inhalers
• Administer inhaled Nitric oxide (iNO), and sub-ambient O₂
• Patient assessment and chest x-ray review
• Orientation of new staffs
• Active participation during patient rounds

► Pulmonary Function Test:

• Simple spirometry with pre- and post- bronchodilator
• Cardio-pulmonary exercise stress test
• Lung volume measurements using:
  • Body Box Plethysmography       
  • Nitrogen Washout Technique
• Lung Diffusion Study
• Bronchial Provocation Test (Metacholine Challenge Testing)
• Six-minute Walk Test

► Home Care:

• Deliver homecare and pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Provide patient, family and community education.

Department Contact Information:

Phone:          +9713-7075723

                     +9713-7074040

Fax:              +9713-7074044