What is Cardiopulmonary Care?
Cardiopulmonary care patients are typically dealing with congestive heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In some cases, there is an exacerbation that had someone admitted into the hospital and when they come home they require skilled in-home nursing services until the condition is stable and well-managed. Often times, there are co-morbidities, such as cancer or infections, that further compromise the patient’s condition.
Why you might need Cardiopulmonary Care
In relation to CHF and COPD the reasons for treatment could be, but are not limited to, the following:
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Cancer
We have three goals in mind for our patients when performing our in-home cardiopulmonary services:
- Prevent them from making a return to the hospital.
- Improve their overall quality of life, and hopefully make them better than before.
- Help them move back throughout the community and safely regain their independence.
It is true that every patient is different and unique goals and needs may reflect, but these three goals never waiver.
Services Provided to Our Cardiopulmonary Patients
When we provide cardiopulmonary nursing and rehabilitation services for patients we help manage and educate on the following areas:
Cardiac Rehabilitation
This service like all of ours can be in the comfort of your home. The objective is to build up the heart and energy levels back up to allow patients to perform that activities they want to be able to do within reason. We provide an educational program that they can follow safely without risk of damaging the heart any further. A common term you will hear your nurses and specialists mention is Pulsox, which we use to check blood pressure and other vitals on a regular basis. Throughout rehabilitation, we will provide you with education every step of the way to ensure you completely understand that process.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation can be in the convenience of your own home. In part of the rehab process you will be given the following:
- Specific breathing techniques tailored for you
- Provided with medication and diet management
- Taught to conserve energy
Energy Conservation
During the process of caring for patients with cardiopulmonary related needs, energy conservation is key to getting someone back to their healthy lifestyle as quickly as possible. Each case depends on the situation at hand, where even in severe conditions they need to be retaught specific daily functions. In many cases we teach our patients the following:
- When to take breaks, and when not to take breaks with rehabilitation.
- Specific muscle groups that need to be used performing daily tasks safely, such as bending over to pick something up.
- Proper form and techniques to safely complete everyday motions, as in sitting in a chair and standing up from that chair.
- How to use their breaths when doing activities and not holding their breath at the wrong times. Overall, patients become alert to their breathing patterns.
- Time of days when to eat meals, the food to eat, and how it correlates with daily and bodily activities.
Equipment Management
In-home care for cardiopulmonary patients could require various pieces of new equipment around a house that may not be normal. For instance, it is prevalent to have an oxygen tank in the home. We will order all the proper equipment needed for each person. Additionally, we will teach our clients to:
- Properly store and maintain equipment in an environment that is dry and cleaned.
- Manage equipment and understand how to move them if they are portable.
- What to wear when using specific equipment.
- Safety and precautionary procedures such as plugs not being frayed and outlets are working correctly.
Let Enhanced Rehabilitation Services Cardiopulmonary Care Specialists Help You!
We truly pride ourselves on providing exceptional quality care to our patients. We are there anytime you need us 24/7.