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Hi it’s Patrik Hutzel from www.intensivecareathome.com.au where we help long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy to improve their Quality of life and where we also help hospitals and Intensive Care Units to save money and resources, whilst providing Quality Care!

In last week’s blog I was talking about “Why INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME is NOT killing a “sacred cow” by offering home care services!” You can read, watch or listen to last week’s blog by clicking on the link below this video here.

In this week’s blog I want to talk about “What care is needed for INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME?”

In case you have wondered how a transition from Intensive Care to a home care environment is possible for an Adult or a Child who is long-term ventilated with a Tracheostomy, today I want to shed more light on the actual care and the equipment required when taking a Client home from ICU.

First of all, in case you are still sceptical whether long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy are safe in their own home and if you are still wondering whether INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME is really offering a genuine alternative to a long-term stay in Intensive Care, let me tell you that when I first heard about similar services coming up in Germany around 15 years ago, I probably felt like you feel and I was sceptical myself.

A lot more is possible than you think it is

However, as soon as I started working with long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy in their own home my scepticism flew out of the window, because of the possibilities and the opportunities that are created for long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy and their Families in their own home.

First, let’s quickly look at the logistics such as what equipment is needed for a long-term ventilated Adult or Child with Tracheostomy so that you can get a feel for it.

Equipment required

• ventilator designed for home care  with ventilation features including SIMV, PSV, CPAP, BIPAP, PEEP
• an oxygen concentrator
• spare Tracheostomies and inner cannulas
• ventilation circuits(disposable)
• Humidifier
• Suction apparatus
• Suction catheters(in-line suction)
• Pulse oxymeter and/or ECG monitor
• Cuff manometer
• Resuscitation bag including PEEP valve
• Sterile Trachea dilators
• Special care bed

I’m not listing consumables such as Trachea dressings and/or other consumables required for the care of a Client, but that’s obviously required as well.

What’s also required is a nursing roster provided by us to provide the care in the home and a medical practitioner overseeing the care of the Client. The medical practitioner is ideally an Intensivist, but it can also be a respiratory Physician, an Anaesthetist or a Paediatrician. I have worked with all of those specialists when looking after ventilated Clients in their own home.

And now comes the most important part of when it comes to taking long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy home.

It’s all about mindset

Mindset. People’s mindset is critical. The knowledge, the belief, a “can-do” attitude and “doing whatever it takes” are key ingredients when it comes to making the transition from Intensive Care to home. Without those key ingredients nothing is going to happen.

We obviously believe that we are bringing all of the above to the table and create a win-win situation for all stakeholders in this process.

I would like your thoughts and comments. How important do you think people’s mindset is when it comes to taking long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy Home?

Leave your comments here or send me an email to [email protected]

Also note that INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME has recently been selected as a preferred provider by Queensland Health as part of the HOSPITAL IN THE HOME tender.

Thank you tuning into this week’s blog.

If you want to discuss your needs for your Intensive Care Unit, feel free to give me a call on 041 094 2230.

This is Patrik Hutzel from www.intensivecareathome.com.au  and I’ll see you again in another update next week.