Complex Airway Care

24/7 Respiratory Care in the Community

Pre-Discharge

In collaboration with the hospital, the Community Respiratory Therapist: 

• Trains the community care team specific to respiratory care and ventilator management in the community 
• Gets necessary community respiratory care orders and learns the expectations of the most responsible physician 
• Works with HCCSS and private insurance to secure professional and personal care hours assuming an advocacy role for the patient 
• Involves the family, patient and informal caregivers in training that complements the ICU team training

Discharge To The Community

The Community Respiratory Therapist’s primary role is to ensure the care team is confident in managing/ supporting the patient’s respiratory needs by:

• Accompanying the patient on route home from hospital, if necessary
• Providing ongoing in-home training and support for patient & care team;
  • Training is more intense with each team member’s first few shifts
  • Ongoing training builds capacity in the community care team
• Using a patient centred approach that trends care and support levels to clinical changes and new team member training requirements
• Performing respiratory assessments
• Providing 24/7 support

Helping People Breathe Right At Home

Acknowledging the patient’s basic human right to choose where they live and the type of support they need enhances their quality of life.

The criteria for selecting patients to be safely and successfully transitioned into the community are broadly determined as:

• Medically stable
• Maximally weaned on the ventilator; 
• Minimal co-morbidities; 
• Patient's desire to return home; 
• Family's desire to have patient return home 
• Medical support for ventilation in the community by a most responsible physician (MRP); and 
• Adequate care hours/support in the home

Funding for Respiratory Therapists 

Home and Community Care Support Services can fund for Community Respiratory Therapy Services.

These respiratory services are provided by a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) in good standing with the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario for patient’s requiring the expertise of a Respiratory Therapist. 

The ProResp RRT Visit Rate: 

• An all-inclusive rate which includes face-to-face time with the patient, travel and preparation time, consultation and communication time, and documentation and reporting time
• Includes an average of 1.5 hours face-to-face time with the patient

Working with the HCCSS Team Includes:

• Consultation with the Care Coordinator to gain pertinent patient information, history and reason for referral
• Consultation with the MRP, family physician and nurse practitioner
• Respiratory teaching and support including assessments for the patient in the place of residence
• Follow-up patient visits at home as required and authorized by the patient’s HCCSS Care Coordinator
• Follow-up reports to the HCCSS Care Coordinator and MRP as required by the patient’s condition to include
  a written summary of the assessment, interventions performed, and any recommendations