Conferences

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Hey RT Nation,

I was going through some of the upcoming events and wondered which ones you were planning to attend?

  • HHS’s RT Educational Retreat (Hamilton, Canada)
    Sept 18th 2018 hamiltonhealthsciences.ca
  • PFT Symposium (Calgary, Canada)
    Sept 21st to 22nd 2018
    CACPT.ca
  • Inspire 2019 and Better Breathing Conference (Toronto, Canada)
    Jan 24th to 26th 2019
    RTSO.ca  and Lungontario.ca
  • Canadian Respiratory Conference (Ottawa, Canada)
    April 11th 13th 2019
    cts-sct.ca
  • CSRT Annual Conference (Niagara Falls, Canada)
    May 9th to 11th 2019
    CSRT.com
  • Canadian Network for Respiratory Care
    Every two years
    cnrchome.net

What are your thoughts on these conferences? Which talks/workshops you would like to see?

 

Conferences

Who is helping who?

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 Last Monday I was driving through my usual path to work.  At the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) laboratory of Markham Stouffville Hospital, my colleagues and I perform PFT, 6 Minute Walk Test, Home O2 assessment, Arterial Blood Gas and occasional Exercise Induced Asthma test.  In the gaps between tests we provide patient education including Asthma, COPD and Smoking Cessation. On my drive to work last Monday around 7am, I was waiting to make a left turn when a car ran a red light and collided with the vehicle travelling in the perpendicular direction.  Because of the impact, the cars changed path and hit my vehicle. Everyone was okay. The cars had to be towed to collision reporting centre before being heading to repair shops. While I sat in the tow truck, the driver walked me through all the steps, gave me advice on what to expect that day and for the following days.  He even helped me organized all the required documents as I called my insurance company. As we were waiting for my rental vehicle to arrive, he said, “You said that you are a respiratory therapist… I have a bad habit”. He paused for few seconds and then continued… “I have been trying to quit smoking”.

Over the next 15 minutes we covered some smoking cessation information. I asked him questions and we went through some options.  He was motivated and willing.

 A few days later I was reflecting on this interaction and the conversation with him.  Sometimes you get to help someone when least expected. In my case you may get to help someone while they are helping you!  

 Yet another thought, or possibility, came to my mind.  Perhaps he asked me a question so I would talk about something I am passionate about.  Because over those 15 minutes, I was not thinking about the accident, being late for work, nor the hassles of fixing my car. In that time I was in the zone of helping someone else.  It was such a simple way to get someone’s mind off the stress of the situation.

 Are there any patient scenarios where this “technique” can be utilized? I am hesitant to call it a technique as by interacting with patients we, the health care providers, can establish a genuine rapport which can further improve patient care.   Maybe this method or technique can be used while getting things ready for an ABG? Perhaps before or while having a patient in the PFT body box or CT/MRI machine?

 

 Find out what the patient is passionate about during your ongoing conversation with them.  Ask them a relevant question or advice, and watch them focus on something positive.

 

Let me know if you have used this approach before and how it went!

PFT job

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Hi everyone,

Please check out this PFT job posting from

Bayview Cardiopulmonary Services (BCPS) Clinic:

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Seeking part time Registered Respiratory Therapist to perform high quality pulmonary function studies in a private lab setting.
Work along side a small and dynamic team of professionals to provide high quality respiratory care in an outpatient community clinic. This is an autonomous role valuing the expertise of the respiratory therapist, with potential opportunities for growth in roles and responsibilities.

Duties include:
• Perform high quality full pulmonary function studies including spirometry, body plethysmography, diffusion capacity and bronchodilator administration.
• Manage patient records to required reporting and filing standards
• Participate in ongoing quality assurance programs and facility standards activities.
Requirements:
• Registered respiratory therapist in good standing with CRTO
• Up to date certification in health care provider basic cardiac life support
• 1-2 years relevant experience performing full pulmonary function studies in an outpatient setting
• Excellent understanding of PFT quality standards including ATS and IHF guidelines
• Familiarity with nSpire HD PFT systems an asset

If you are interested, please send an email to Dr Khalil Sivjee ( khalil.sivjee@gmail.com ) along with your CV.

Thank you for your consideration,

Bayview Cardiopulmonary Services (BCPS) Clinic
586 Eglinton Ave East Suite 308 (Bayview& Eglinton).

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Shawna

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Shawna (Urquhart) MacDonald is an active Respiratory Therapist at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).  I got to know Shawna as she also volunteers on the Board of Directors at the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario (RTSO).   Unbeknownst to me, I had actually been exposed to Shawna’s work over the past four years, as she has been one of the creative minds behind RTSO Airwaves, RTSO’s publication.  I am a fan of Airwaves because this publication celebrates respiratory therapists (RTs), and creates a sense of community in our field. I am fascinated by her level of dedication and contributions in the field.

When I heard that she has been helping with Respiratory Therapy Educational Retreats, I used the opportunity to gain more insight about her experiences and the Retreat.

Here is my conversation with Shawna:

 

Shawna, I know how busy you are with your family, work, RTSO Airwaves, Inspire 2019 planning, and the upcoming HHS RT Educational Retreat.  Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!

Let’s take a moment and share little bit about you with our audience.
What made you decide to study respiratory therapy?

I have asthma…diagnosed when I was very young.  My childhood was filled with visits to hospital, different medication trials, and even a spontaneous pneumothorax! One summer I participated in a memorable pool exercise and educational program for asthmatic kids that was hosted by the Lung Association, so lung health strategies and Respiratory Therapy have been an influence in my life for a very long time.

I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession, specifically in healthcare in some capacity.  I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to be a pharmacist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist or a respiratory therapist!  However, the decision was an easy one after time spent shadowing each profession towards the end of high school.  My asthma experiences fuelled my passion for the profession!  I am a proud graduate of Fanshawe College, class of ’92.

 

Glad that you decided to study respiratory therapy!

What have been some of your memorable RT positions/roles so far?

I have held many positions over the past 26 years, and all have them have grown me into who I am today, with many wonderful memories along the way. From bedside Clinician to Student Clinical Coordinator to Education & Development Clinician (RT Educator), and now back full circle to bedside Clinician again.  I have also volunteered in many different capacities over the years, sitting on various committees and working groups; planning RT Week displays, activities and events; and volunteering with professional bodies.  I was a CRTO PORTfolio reviewer for 10 years, and I thoroughly enjoyed that opportunity and learned so very much!  My favourite part of this was learning about what amazing things RT’s were doing across the province…this always provided such inspiration and sparked a renewed passion for the profession.  In 2014, I began volunteering with the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario (RTSO) as Editor of RTSO Airwaves (a quarterly publication of the RTSO) and as a Board member…my way of giving back to a profession that has given me so much.  These experiences and roles have shaped me into a well-rounded and seasoned therapist, but there is always more to learn and more ways to grow, both on a personal and professional level.

You definitely have a rich portfolio.  As someone who has volunteered with you, your level of dedication is clearly evident and appreciated!   I would like to ask you more questions for a possible second interview piece, but for now let’s talk about the upcoming Educational Retreat in Hamilton.

 

What is the goal of this conference and what can RTs who are attending this conference expect?  

What I love about the HHS RT Retreat is that it is a conference designed by Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) RT’s specifically to meet the educational needs of Respiratory Therapists.  I am proud to share that a number of people involved with this event have been on the Planning Committee for several years…it is so rewarding! I have had the pleasure of wearing many hats with this event, from planning committee member to speaker to chairing the event one year…all wonderful experiences!

 

The HHS RT Educational Retreat offers professional networking, lectures, hands-on facilitated workshops, tremendous vendor support, and lots of prizes!  What is great about our event is that over the years, it has grown to support regional LHIN RT’s and affiliated RT Programs for Student Respiratory Therapists and RT Educators.  We have also built in ample time to liaise with our many corporate (vendor) supporters…we couldn’t run the event without them, and we have a unique approach get people mingling with our vendors through our ‘vendor passport’ system and prize draw.  It is truly a marquis event! 

 

Thank you Shawna for your insight!

This year’s HHS RT Retreat is happening September 18th, 2018 at Carmen’s Banquet Centre in Hamilton. The cost for this full day event is only $60 ($35 for students).

For those who are interested to learn more about this conference and to register, please click on the following link:  www.hamiltonhealth.ca/rtretreat2018

 

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Biological Control

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Doing my biological control on the machine.
How often do you do the biological control? Are you recording the trend? Do you know the standard deviation ? Do you know where to go for more details?
#spirometry

Here is a good a reference: https://www.cpso.on.ca/CPSO/media/documents/CPGs/IHF/Pulmonary-Function-Studies.pdf