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In this episode of RTMatters, we’re joined by Dr. Robert Joyner, PhD, RRT-ACCS, FAARC, Director of the TidalHealth Richard A. Henson Research Institute in Salisbury, MD. With years of experience directing and coordinating clinical research studies, Bob shares valuable insights into the importance of basing respiratory therapy practices on strong clinical evidence—especially as the healthcare system transitions to value-based care.

Bob and host Patrick Dunne explore how respiratory therapists can advocate for evidence-based protocols within hospital committees and work alongside physician leaders to improve patient care. They dive into the hierarchy of clinical research evidence, from expert opinion to prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the critical role of eliminating bias and peer review in ensuring the credibility of research.

Bob also discusses the different types of clinical research reviews—systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and scoping reviews—and addresses why many RTs are hesitant to engage in research. Despite the initial challenges, Bob emphasizes that research becomes more manageable with practice and can be incredibly rewarding.

The episode concludes with a brief discussion on the potential impact of A.I. in healthcare, particularly in RT practice, with plans to explore this further in future episodes.

#RTMatters #ClinicalResearch #EvidenceBasedCare #RespiratoryTherapists #HealthcareInnovation #ResearchInRespiratoryCare #ValueBasedCare #AInHealthcare #RandomizedControlledTrials #EvidenceBasedPractice

In this first part of a multi-episode series, we delve into the growing role of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in respiratory therapy practice. While A.I. has seamlessly integrated into our personal lives through technologies like Siri, Alexa, and navigation apps, its introduction into the workplace—especially healthcare—has raised concerns about clinical efficacy, patient safety, and job security.

In this episode, we introduce the basics of A.I., explaining how it works and why it’s being called the "eventual inevitability" in respiratory care. While A.I. in healthcare can feel intimidating, we aim to address the fears and misconceptions surrounding this technology. As A.I. continues to make its mark on respiratory care, this is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation that will explore its impact, benefits, and challenges in future episodes.

Join us for this insightful discussion and stay tuned for more on A.I. in respiratory care.

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#RTMatters #ArtificialIntelligence #RespiratoryTherapists #HealthcareInnovation #AIinHealthcare #RespiratoryCare #ClinicalEfficacy #PatientSafety

In this episode of RTMatters, we’re joined by Kellianne Fleming, Director of Pulmonary Services at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin and Interim Executive Director of Froedtert Bluemound Rehabilitation Hospital. Kellianne, also the lead author of the influential article "Optimizing Respiratory Therapy Resources by De-Implementing Low-Value Care" from the May 2023 edition of RESPIRATORY CARE, discusses her team’s journey to eliminate a non-evidence-based respiratory care procedure.

Kellianne walks us through the process of addressing a problematic physician order set, the challenges of insufficient staffing, and the negative impacts on patient safety. She dives into the concept of confirmation bias and how it can hinder innovation in healthcare, while also explaining how peer-reviewed data was used to demonstrate the lack of efficacy for aerosolized medications in treating secretion retention.

Learn how Froedtert tackled this issue hospital-wide through a quality improvement initiative, the importance of having an engaged medical director, and the positive outcomes for both RT staff and patients. This episode also explores how this success serves as a model for evaluating and improving other low-value respiratory care procedures.

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#RTMatters #LowValueCare #RespiratoryTherapists #PatientSafety #HealthcareInnovation #RespiratoryCare #QualityImprovement #EvidenceBasedCare