Ventilator Rehabilitation Program
For more than 25 years, Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care North Shore and Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care Cambridge have helped free patients from ventilator dependence, with some of the best outcomes in the nation. Our rates of weaning and discharge are consistently high and our infection rates (including Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia) low when compared with similar programs throughout the country.
Our strength lies in our experienced professionals, all of them highly trained in ventilator rehabilitation and deeply committed to helping their patients succeed. Our pulmonary leaders and physicians are from Boston and North Shore’s top teaching hospitals, and our teams have ready access to the specialists and services of the entire Spaulding Rehabilitation and Partners HealthCare networks.
Approach to Care
Our approach at Spaulding goes beyond ventilator weaning. We put equal emphasis on improving function and planning for the transition to ventilator independence, for the best chance at long-term success.
Our keys to success come from the coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary team. Pulmonary and critical care physicians direct care with a goal of stabilizing and optimizing underlying medical, nutritional, and respiratory conditions. Physical, occupational, nutrition, speech and respiratory rehabilitation therapists and nurses work with patients to help them regain skills and strength.
The Ventilator Rehabilitation Team consists of highly skilled professionals with expertise in rehabilitation of the ventilator assisted patient. The team includes a board-certified pulmonary physician; pulmonary nursing staff; licensed social worker; registered licensed therapists in respiratory therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and therapeutic recreation; registered dietician; nurse program manager, and psychologist. At Spaulding, our team treats the whole person.
We recognize that patients and their families are the most important team members of all. We work hard to keep them motivated and involved throughout the rehabilitation process. Our staff includes case managers, social workers and psychologists, who offer counseling, education and support every step of the way.
Expertise
Our team consists of rehabilitation nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, psychologists, social workers, programs managers, and board-certified pulmonologists collaborating on each patient’s case to ensure maximum recovery. Many of these team members have more than 20 years experience in ventilator care and weaning.
Program Director(s)
Directed by Dr. Christopher Fanta from Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Spaulding Hospital Cambridge Ventilator Program provides patients with a full spectrum of on-site services along with daily pulmonary and intensive consultation from Brigham and Women's Pulmonary and Critical Care Division.
On the North Shore, Dr. Neil S. Shore, Director of Pulmonary Medicine Spaulding Hospital North Shore, and Sandra M. Pigulski RRT, Director of Respiratory Care Services, oversee patient care.
Locations
Ventilator Rehabilitation is offered at these Spaulding locations:
Inpatient
Spaulding Hospital Cambridge
Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care North Shore
Related Services
The following services are related to the Ventilator Program:
Dialysis
Telemetry & Oxygen Saturation
IV Therapy
Wound Management
Bronchoscopy
CPAP/BiPAP Therapy
High Flow Oxygen System Therapy
Interactive Location Map
