AARC In A Twit Re Their Role in Sleep Disorder Dx & Tx

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) states that current legislation addressing sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment threatens to legally rescind part of the scope of practice of respiratory therapy.

What part of sleep disorder diagnosis do RTs have?? To my knowledge the ONLY part RTs had in sleep therapy was the set up of the xPAPs, fitting of masks, advice, support, etc. of patients. I had NO IDEA that RTs had ANY part in Dx'ing any sleep disorders!!!

The article I read didn't detail what scope RTs currently have regarding sleep disorder diagnoses. I wish they had!!

Given that so many local DME RTs often really don't know and understand the xPAPs they provide, especially the fully data capable xPAPs, other than what is on the Quick SetUp Guide, and so many don't seem to know how to do a proper mask fitting .... some extra training and qualifications don't sound like a bad idea at all to me!!! And what role do they have in Dxing a sleep disorder????

slinky ,
possibly if a person is set up by a dr to have a xpap in home for a trial and the rt faxes over the data to the dr then yes they would be INVOLVED in the diagnosis.

pretty lame but like everone these days they will do whatever to keep thier jobs. even if it stretches things. you know the b.s.

I fail to see where they would be any more INVOLVED in the Dx than when they set up a new CPAP according to doctor's script and printout a download of the data to be furnished to the doctor prior to the patient's scheduled consult w/the sleep doctor.

if they claim it it makes them feel more important i guess

In my opinion (and you knew I had one ) :

I think anyone diagnosed with a form of SDB who also has a complication, such as COPD, bad asthma, or CHF, would likely particularly benefit from having an RT at the sleep lab/center directly involved in the therapy decisions as a matter of course. That RT should be closely partnered with the sleep doc in implementing the sleep doc's wishes, but in conjunction with the RT's experience and training, as they together make decisions about how a particular blower is set up for a particular patient, with a definite program for follow-up and follow-through.

Especially would that be important, imo, when it involves a timed bilevel or ASV machine being used, for all practical purposes, as a ventilator in what is basically a form of respiratory therapy. It is not fair to expect a doc to make machine decisions for complicated patients without an RT by his/her side with whom the doc has a good working relationship and who understands the machines.

If the versatility and effectiveness of the more recent, more powerful machines are beginning to blur some lines or the lines that remain are getting in the way of patients' getting good treatment, that ought to be addressed somehow.

And maybe they can all just draw straws to see who gets which cut of the cash!

Thank you, jnk. What you say has some merit. IF I had much confidence that many RTs had the expertise w/these xPAPs you are giving them credit for. *sigh* After reading these forums it sure seems there are an awful lot of them out there that DON'T!!!

jnk wrote:And maybe they can all just draw straws to see who gets which cut of the cash!

I nearly choked on this, jnk!!!

Slinky wrote:Thank you, jnk. What you say has some merit. IF I had much confidence that many RTs had the expertise w/these xPAPs you are giving them credit for. *sigh* After reading these forums it sure seems there are an awful lot of them out there that DON'T!!!

jnk wrote:And maybe they can all just draw straws to see who gets which cut of the cash!

I nearly choked on this, jnk!!!

Don't choke!!!

Well, I assume the RTs should understand ventilators. And I assume that if more of them had a monetarily-induced and exciting/challenging reason to learn sleep machines, they would. So the argument may be (or my interpretation of it) that it is time to allow them to follow the money. Good for them. Good for the sleep docs. Good for the manufacturers (who must be dog tired of trying to explain machines to docs). And good for those patients who would benefit.

Bad for our wallets.