Newman Regional Health is hosting an open house in Cardiopulmonary Services in recognition of Respiratory Care Week, which is Oct. 19-25.
Karen Schell, director of Cardiopulmonary Services, said the department is holding events all week, with a public open house on Thursday. There will be two times for the open house: 7-8:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. The open house will include educational activities and information on the department. There will be smoking and non-smoking pig lungs for view and equipment used in the practice of respiratory care will be available for the public to see.
The open house is an opportunity for the public to get a peek at the department and also is an opportunity for students to investigate the profession, Schell said. Schell said there is an overall shortage in the health care profession.
“We want people interested in the profession to come out and have a look at it,” she said. “We want to celebrate our profession and recruit new individuals into it.”
Schell said the role of the respiratory therapists is to work with lung health, including asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and pneumonia. Respiratory therapists also do bedside breathing treatments, monitor arterial blood gases, ventilators for adults, children and infants, and do bedside education for patients.
“We encourage patients to not smoke or to quit smoking,” Schell said. “It’s the main cause of COPD.”
Schell said respiratory therapists are a vital part of the hospital setting.
“We want to be a part of the team,” Schell said, adding that therapists also work in the hospital’s sleeping lab and in the cardiac rehabilitation unit as well.
For more information on the department or the open house contact 341-6800.