Verathon Resource Center
Select from the procedures below to gather helpful articles and information.
GUIDES AND ARTICLES

Overcoming Staff Burnout in the ICU Overcoming Staff Burnout in the ICU
The COVID pandemic continues to pose challenges to clinicians struggling to provide the best possible care to their patients. Long hours and staffing shortages are still taking a toll on ICU staff. A study recently published by AARC reported that 79% of Respiratory Therapists (RTs) surveyed for the study reported burnout, with 10% reporting severe burnout1. Unsurprisingly, another study of nurses showed that patient outcomes were worse in hospitals where burnout rates was higher2.
Even before the pandemic, the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/respiratory-therapists.htm#tab-6">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> projected 19% growth in RT jobs over the next decade, much faster than other occupations. With COVID straining all available resources, finding ways to increase staff efficiency and decrease workloads can go a long way in helping prevent burnout.
“It’s important to staff to appropriately ensure safe patient ratios, even if it means bringing in more traveling therapists”, says Alan Haynie, an RRT and Clinical Educator based in Mesa, Arizona. “The only way to get ahead of this is for folks to choose to get vaccinated, but that’s out of our control. What hospitals can control is making things more streamlined, and making care more efficient.”
Reducing staff burden while increasing patient safety
One possible solution is to consider utilizing single-use devices to streamline workflow to save time. Reprocessing an endoscope takes over an hour3, taking up valuable staff time that could be spent delivering patient care. And despite years of effort to reduce hospital-acquired infections, the CDC recently reported that hospital acquired infections were up4.
In June 2021, the FDA provided <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/flexible-bronchoscopes-and-updated-recommendations-reprocessing-fda-safety-communication">updated guidance</a> recommending the use of <a href="https://www.verathon.com/single-use-bronchoscopes">single-use bronchoscopes</a> in situations where there is risk of spreading infection, or when immediate reprocessing isn’t available.
“Hiring travelers can provide a facility much needed relief. But processes like scope reprocessing can be very different between hospitals. It takes time and effort to get them trained and used to a new system. Who does the pre-cleaning? Who’s responsible for transporting and restocking the scopes? Reprocessing usually requires multiple staff members. With disposables, no one has to leave the unit. Life just gets easier for the staff”, says Haynie.
As the CDC works with healthcare facilities to implement infection control practices that can weather the storm of the next pandemic, single-use devices often just make sense. In addition to staff efficiency and patient safety benefits, single-use bronchoscopes often have a lower cost-per-use when compared to reusable bronchoscopes. For more information on comparing the operating costs of single-use bronchoscopes versus reusable bronchoscopes, <a href="https://www.verathon.com/bflex-calculator">visit the BFlex bronchoscope cost calculator</a> to compare results.
Recognizing the silent warriors
COVID has underscored the vital role respiratory therapists play in managing respiratory illness. RTs are starting to get more recognition for the heroic efforts they are playing supporting our communities through this pandemic.
Haynie explained, “Before the pandemic, doctors and nurses were often recognized and celebrated while RT worked in the background, quietly providing critical care”. Helping to make their jobs easier by saving time is one way to help prevent burnout. But providing recognition for their hard work can also go a long way. “Hazard pay and bonuses are great and well deserved, but even being treated to lunch by unit managers or department directors can make a big difference.”
While COVID has been hard on RT's in the ICU, looking for ways to reduce staff burden and increase recognition can help with retention.
____________________________
1. Andrew G Miller, et al. Prevalence of Burnout Among Respiratory Therapists Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic Respiratory Care July 2021, respcare.09283; DOI: <a href="http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/66/11/1639">http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/66/11/1639</a>.
2. Schlak AE, et al. Leveraging the Work Environment to Minimize the Negative Impact of Nurse Burnout on Patient Outcomes. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(2). <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7828279">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7828279/</a>
3. Ofstead, C.L. et al. A Glimpse at the True Cost of Reprocessing Endoscopes: Results of a Pilot Project. <a href="http://docplayer.net/51959882-A-glimpse-at-the-true-cost-of-reprocessing-endoscopes.html">http://docplayer.net/51959882-A-glimpse-at-the-true-cost-of-reprocessing-endoscopes.html</a>. 2017
4. Weiner-Lastinger, L., et al. (2021). The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on healthcare-associated infections in 2020: A summary of data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1-14. Accessed September 7, 2021. <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/impact-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid19-on-healthcareassociated-infections-in-2020-a-summary-of-data-reported-to-the-national-healthcare-safety-network/8197F323F4840D233A0C62F4726287E1">https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/impact-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid19-on-healthcareassociated-infections-in-2020-a-summary-of-data-reported-to-the-national-healthcare-safety-network/8197F323F4840D233A0C62F4726287E1</a>

Video Laryngoscopy Post COVID-19 Video Laryngoscopy Post COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, airway management guidelines in many countries have recommended video laryngoscopy be used as a first line for all patients requiring intubation 1-3. Although video laryngoscopes appear to have been widely available prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, their use in many centres was constrained by having a few devices located in the main theater areas 4.

Managing Urinary Retention in the Acute Care Environment Managing Urinary Retention in the Acute Care Environment
/sites/default/files/2021-10/BladderScan-Managing_Urinary_Retention.pdf
The purpose of this acute care clinical manual is to assist clinicians in the management of urinary retention (UR) in the acute care setting—hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.
TECHNIQUE VIDEOS

BFlex™ & Biopsy Forceps or Brush
July 20, 2021

Video Laryngoscopy with a Hyperangulated Blade
September 23, 2020

BFlex & Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)
September 20, 2021

Dual View Technique with Bronchoscopy and Laryngoscopy
January 27, 2021
CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS

Comparison of Video Laryngoscopy Versus Direct Laryngoscopy During Urgent Endotracheal Intubation: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparison of Video Laryngoscopy Versus Direct Laryngoscopy During Urgent Endotracheal Intubation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
GlideScope video laryngoscopy improves the first- attempt success rate during urgent endotracheal intubation performed by pulmonary and critical care medicine fellows when compared with direct laryngoscopy.
Click on this article to see the complete clinical study.

Multimodal Airway Management: Combining Advanced Airway Techniques Can Be Better Multimodal Airway Management: Combining Advanced Airway Techniques Can Be Better
Multimodal airway approaches are being designed as a response to unusual difficult airway cases. Perhaps it is time to consider including these approaches in difficult airway algorithms as a final step before resorting to surgical access.

Assessing the Daily Consistency of Bladder Filling Using an Ultrasonic Bladderscan Device in Men Receiving Radical Conformal Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer Assessing the Daily Consistency of Bladder Filling Using an Ultrasonic Bladderscan Device in Men Receiving Radical Conformal Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Consistency in target organ and organ at risk position from planning to treatment is an important basic principle of radiotherapy. This study evaluates the effectiveness of bladder-filling instructions in achieving a consistent and reproducible bladder volume at the time of planning CT and daily during the course of radical radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Click on this article to see the complete clinical study.
EVENTS & WEBINARS
October, 13 2022 - October, 15 2022
ANCC: American Nurses Credentialing Center
Booth # 1245
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Brand:
BladderScan
Specialty:
Nursing
October, 16 2022 - October, 19 2022
CHEST: American College of Chest Physicians
Booth # 1229
Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Brand:
GlideScope
Specialty:
Pulmonology
October, 22 2022 - October, 25 2022
ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists
Booth # 3529
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Brand:
GlideScope
Specialty:
Anesthesia