DESCRIPTION
The process of weaning from mechanical ventilation can prove a significant struggle, particularly for patients with neuromuscular compromise due to spinal cord injury or other neuro-motor injury. While traditional vent weaning
settings (long term acute care hospitals/LTACHs) have long been offering ventilator weaning services, the multi-disciplinary and neuro-motor expertise that is accessible at inpatient acute rehabilitation facilities (IRF) offer a novel approach to optimize the success of ventilator free breathing for these specific populations. Outcomes from a pilot IRF program outline high success rates of ventilator weaning amongst pediatric and adult patient populations who previously relied upon mechanical ventilation due to neuromuscular injury, with many of the patients having experienced “ventilator weaning failure” at previous settings.

LEARNER OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify appropriate patients for ventilator-free breathing program at IRF
2. Describe how rehab hospital programs can differ from other facilities
3. Discuss the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in ventilator-free
   breathing program
4. Identify benefits of ventilator-free breathing time in regards to patient quality of life and patient/caregiver adjustment

INSTRUCTORS
Ki (Alex) Kim, MD, Phillip Hall, RRT, MBA, Lauren Henderson, OTR/L, Tessa Herrmann DPT, Kristen Forand, M.A., CCC-SLP and Linda Morris PhD, APN

AUDIENCE
Case Managers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Physicians, Physician Assistants (not offering CME), Social Workers and Speech-Language Pathologists 

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
No accreditation is offered for this webinar. 

DISCLOSURES
Kristen Forand
Financial: Receives a salary from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Non-financial: No relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Phillip Hall
Financial: Receives a salary from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Non-financial: No relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Lauren Henderson
Financial: Receives a salary from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Non-financial: No relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Tessa Herrmann
Financial: Receives a salary from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Non-financial: No relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Ki (Alex) Kim
Financial: Receives a salary from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Non-financial: No relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Linda Morris
Financial: Receives a salary from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; Author for Benchmark Health Publishing Company and receives royalty payments.
Non-financial: Founding Member, Global Tracheostomy Collaborative.