The University Of Chicago Medical Center is proud to present a two-day course structured to improve a therapist’s proficiency in the management of patients experiencing a critical illness. Advancements in medical management of patients experiencing respiratory failure have improved survival rates of these patients. Resultant long-term deficits in a patients’ functional performance persist due to neuromuscular and neurocognitive impairments. To improve patient outcomes, the critical care community has increased the emphasis on early and aggressive physical and occupational therapy involvement. However, treating patients with a critical illness can be challenging for therapists due to the complexity of both the environment and acuity of illness.
This course will highlight the pathophysiology of respiratory failure and the common complications for patients including neuromuscular weakness and neurocognitive functioning. We will discuss the evidence surrounding this topic and address recent research/evidence regarding early therapy intervention. We will also discuss the many considerations for therapists when treating patients in this complex environment including lab values, ECG monitoring, medical equipment, patient safety, types of supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation.
Case studies, demonstration, and videos will be presented to demonstrate the techniques in actual patient scenarios.
The objective of the course is to increase physical and occupational therapists’ knowledge, skill and ease with which they treat patients with complex medical conditions and give therapists the tools to increase therapy involvement in their intensive care units.
