Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals

Madonna helps patients breathe better

December 08, 2022

It’s easy to take the act of breathing for granted. After all, most people don’t have to think about it — it’s a natural reflex. However, as anyone who has suffered from a respiratory ailment, illness, or serious injury will tell you, breathing isn’t always so simple.

Fortunately, Madonna’s Pulmonary Program provides a high level of pulmonary critical care support for patients struggling to breathe, including those requiring ventilator or tracheostomy tube support.

“These patients may have a spinal cord injury, a brain injury, or a stroke,” Melissa Gulizia, Madonna’s Pulmonary Program Manager and a respiratory therapist, said. “Some come to us after routine surgeries that had complications or an illness that has taken a toll on the body. Injuries and illness can affect the drive to breathe which in turn causes respiratory failure.”

Gulizia added that the program serves individuals of all ages, from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to adults with chronic or complex medical conditions, including but not limited to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis and cystic fibrosis.

In 2021, Madonna served 296 patients within its Pulmonary Program across both specialty hospitals. The program is led by board-certified pulmonary physicians and combines respiratory, physical, occupational, speech-language therapy, and rehabilitation nursing to maximize recovery.

“We are part of the therapy treatment team that advocates and strives to get the patient back to being as independent as possible,” Gulizia said. “We work together with the entire care team to help our patients achieve their goals.”

Madonna continues to improve pulmonary patient outcomes by introducing new treatment strategies and technologies. Both campuses are designated Centers of Excellence for implementing leading-edge technology solutions that help patients breathe easier and wean quicker from the ventilator.

For more than 20 years, Madonna has been a Center of Excellence for the Passy Muir Valve (PMV). Also known as a speaking valve, the PMV is a one-way valve connected to the tracheostomy tube, allowing patients to speak and swallow, increasing independence, communication and ventilator weaning. Madonna was the first of 16 Centers of Excellence in the country.

“We ensure all of our staff know and understand the benefits of the Passy Muir Valve, utilize it as part of our standard of care, and are available [as subject experts] to other facilities thinking about using the device at their hospital,” Gulizia said. “It’s become a major tool in our toolbox when it comes to ventilator and tracheostomy tube management/weaning.”

Additionally, Vapotherm recognized Madonna as a Center of Excellence for successful use in warm mist humidification as part of the weaning process for tracheostomy patients. Madonna has incorporated this progressive, warm mist humidification, leading to the highest level of independence for patients.

Madonna also collaborates with Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties in Lincoln and Nebraska Medicine’s Pulmonary and Critical Care department in Omaha to provide a higher level of pulmonary critical care. Since 2009, Dr. Jeffery Jarrett, a pulmonary physician with Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties and the medical director for Madonna’s Pulmonary Program, has witnessed these partnerships blossom firsthand.

“We always had dedicated time set aside for Madonna,” said Jarrett. “Now, our mid-levels [pulmonologists and advanced-practice providers] and doctors are over there five days a week.”

The additional time at the bedside means Madonna’s pulmonary patients reap the benefits.

“When we can remove a trach or take a patient off the ventilator, it restores their faith that things are getting better,” Jarrett said. “For many patients, it’s a milestone in their recovery.”