Health is a fundamental aspect of every nation. As technology continues to take a grip of the globe, so has the development of modern healthcare facilities. Various hospitals offer respiratory care services. The number of modern hospitals has increasingly grown in the last decade as a result of the increased effort being directed towards healthcare management. Among such hospitals are the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda.
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is a high-tech hospital that offers contemporary healthcare services to both adults and children. With a 456 bed capacity, the center is a property of San Bernardino County which also operates. Its location is conveniently commensurate to its services in addition to having a diverse range of services including six medical/surgical units, an advanced unit for critical care, a neonatal intensive care management unit, as well as an emergency and trauma care unit. The facility hosts a respiratory care unit on its third floor. The unit deals with, asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as, intensive care services for people of all ages including infants and the elderly. Additionally, the unit deploys personnel who offer airway management services, provide manual ventilation, chest compressions, and also blood gas sampling. A new approach has been adopted in management of pediatric asthma through a joint program involving Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, County of San Bernardino and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center
On the other hand, Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda is a hospital that has existed since 1977 and provides services to both men and women. The hospital provides services to more than 60,000 veterans who live within San Bernardino County and Riverside. The hospitals humble mission is to ensure that all the veterans within the aforementioned regions have access to exceptional healthcare facility and hence promote their overall well-being.
The hospital provides Certified and Registered Respiratory Therapists who form part of its respiratory team. The respiratory therapists are part of an interdisciplinary team which focuses on service provision to the Nation’s veterans. The therapists work alongside other medical professionals to ensure dissemination of the best care. Among the task often accomplished by respiratory therapists include: Critical care ventilator, pulse oximetry, and lung expansion and secretion clearance therapies, among others.
Interview with a respiratory therapist
According to an interview with a respiratory therapist, Alex Sabio, there is actually no specific routine that can be attached to respiratory therapists. However, there is no doubt that each day comes with a tight schedule from morning to evening. Other than reporting, checking patients and reviewing their medical conditions are among the task likely to be met each new day. The therapist is expected to review individual patient cases. Review involves determining the current condition, and looking for possible remedies to make the patient health even better. To be more specific, the therapists is expected to check out lab reports, review sputum cultures, blood cultures, as well as x-rays, to mention but a few. Additionally, a therapist involves himself in reviewing of ventilator’s use by various patients. Additionally, there is an obligation to always report to the superiors on the day’s findings.
The work environment is no doubt defined by the aforementioned conditions. Other than the busy working environment, the patients are different, each with their own unique characteristics. Generally, the therapist has to work with different kinds of patients and in different areas. It is important to note that respiratory problems are cross-cutting and hence not limited to any population set. This makes it a multiple environment work. The work environment is however, one where staff respect and are friendly to each other. The therapist is expected to act responsibly and make decisions.
The best thing about being a respiratory therapist that emerges from this interview, is the help offered to suffering patients. Working independently and being able to make decisions that positively impact on the patient’s health is something that appeals to the interviewee and would also appeal to many other persons. However, the busy schedule and fragmented work environment is something one would not like and simply require commitment and will power to help. The various opportunities to make more money, also appeal to the interviewee, although such opportunities are limited.
Health and wellness center
The health and wellness center operates between Monday to Thursdays, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Fridays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It offers students with wellness care, illness care as well as injury care. The health services are provided to all registered students who have paid their health fee. Additionally fees may be charged for other services. The center is located in the Student Services Building (SSB-101), situated under the Counseling Center. This is behind the classroom building and closest to parking lot “C”.
An extensive range of services are offered at the health and wellness center. The services include: Nursing Assessment and Care, Medications and Supplies, Screening Tests, Immunizations, Women’s Health Clinic, Mental Health Services, and Referrals where necessary. Appointments can be scheduled via the telephone on (909) 389-3272. However, immediate care does not necessitate appointments. The wellness information available at the center are based on an expanded idea of health which encompasses physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal, social as well as environmental well-being.
Other than the areas addressed, the fitness and wellness center is based on Patient Bill of Rights which help in the centers successes. The patients have various rights including: timely care, patient confidentiality and privacy during examination, access to diagnosis and treatment information, right to accept of refuse treatment, get information on fees and requesting different practitioners if need arises. Other rights include getting the records copy, refuse examination by trainees, get referral when appropriate, and are treated humanely. These rights ensure that visitors to the center get the best treatment.
Financial aid
Financial is important in every aspect as life and more especially in education. Person’s intending to specialize in respiratory management at Craft Hills College is entitled to financial aid. The services running from August to May are accessible in every working day ranging from Monday to Friday. From Monday to Thursday, financial aid can be sought from 9 am to 6 pm, while on Friday; the services are available from 9 am to 1 pm. It always required that person seeking such services, visit the offices at least an hour before closing, this threshold may be increased during the peak periods.
The financial aid forms are available online for printing, completion, and subsequently submission to the office. This is a mandatory requirement for one to open a file with the financial aid office. The deadline for submission is always set, for instance in 2011-2012, the deadline is June 1, 2011. The forms to be submitted are to be accompanied by transcripts as the college deems appropriate. It is important to point out that there are various financial staffs who can be contacted for further assistance. One such staff is Fermin Ramirez who can be reached on (909) 389-3240 or even via the social sites.
An individual’s need is determined on basis of the information provided. Based on the information, the Financial Aid Office establishes a reasonable contribution from the person seeking financial assistance or from the person’s family contribution towards the educational endeavor. The need is derived as the difference between attendance total costs as the existing resources for the family/individual. Additionally, all people seeking financial aid are required to show satisfactory academic performance which involves satisfactory completion of 67% of attempted units in a semester, completion of degree program within reasonable time, and maintenance of a GPO above 2.0.
Various financial aid programs are available and as such each has eligibility requirements. One can apply in those he/she deems suitable. The programs include the California Grant, Pell Grant, Board of Governors Grant Waiver (BOG), and the Federal College Work Study (FCWS). Others include Bureau of Indian Affairs Grant (BIA), Extended Opportunity Program (EOPS), Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE).
Becoming a respiratory therapist
Generally, being a respiratory therapist calls for commitment and willingness to work. It is not just about choosing a career but rather about doing it from the heart. One needs to be ready to sacrifice their time, in addition to being willing to work in different environments.