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The Power Of A Great Team

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theteam

Today our PFT clinic survived a clinical audit.  I have been anticipating this day from the moment I got hired, which was around one year and three months ago.  I was hired to replace the Lead RRT/Chief Technologist.  To excel in this new role, I spent a lot of time studying and learning about ATS and IHF (independent health facility) recommendations/guidelines.   As some of you may know, a lot of effort is required to implement and continue standards of practice in a clinic.  Over my employment in this clinic, I have worked with various RRTs and Respiratory Technicians.  The success of today’s audit is purely due to a great team effort.  I work within a team who cares about their work and that includes: the clinic, the patients, the drive to learn and to grow, and the growth of the team.  Even during the audit Viral Patel, Grace Fontanilla and myself were taking notes and were listening to constructive criticism provided by Mr. Bernie Ho and Dr. Raymond Gottschalk.  Thank you Viral and Grace for making my first audit as a chief technologist/Lead RRT, an easy and successful one!

-Farzad ‘Raffi’ Refahi RRT CRE HBSc

 

Happy Learning

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I get really excited when I come across individuals, groups and organizations that work hard to provide quality resources for health care providers.  There are plenty of them out there! Recently I came across OLEPAP.ca.
” The Lung Association’s Provider Education Program (PEP), funded by The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MoHLTC), has a mandate to develop, implement and evaluate accredited continuing medication education (CME) programs and materials that promote the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) respiratory guidelines. ” (1).

You can view variety of information such as information about workshops, conferences, Online Learning/modules, work-related Asthma, Spirometry, and additional resources.

I strongly encourage you to check out this page.  This post is expressing my personal opinion (no conflict of interest).

Happy Learning!

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1. Provider Education Program. The Lung Association – Ontario. Welcome. http://olapep.ca/welcome/

Artificial Intelligence and Pulmonary Function Testing

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European Respiratory Society (ERS): Artificial intelligence could improve diagnostic power of lung function tests http://ow.ly/h1at303xxE6

This new ERS post talks about a new research that has incorporated the use of artificial intelligence, AI, in Pulmonary Function Testing, PFT, interpretations. This technology will use data from PFT, background clinical information and other testing to generate an automated diagnosis. “The benefit of this method is a more accurate and automated interpretation of pulmonary function tests, and thus better disease detection.”
I recognize an ongoing movement in healthcare an…d other industries to create an automated and cost saving technology and, to reduce the number of Healthcare professionals involved in diagnoses and management of diseases. While this technology may simplify and speed up the process, it may limit and reduce the time spent between healthcare provider and patients. Pulmonary Function Testing session is more than just a diagnostic testing. During the initial and the following testings doctors, respiratory therapist, respiratory educators, pulmonary function technologist and nurses have a chance to offer patient education. Patient education can include answering questions about symptoms, proper puffer techniques, smoking cessation methods, and providing a psychological support.
The best case scenario for patients is to redirect some of the funds, saved from utilizing AI, toward replacing the lost face to face time with scheduled patient education sessions.

Happy Monday!

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“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress… You’re still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.”
– Tony Robbins