In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided greater flexibility for physicians to prescribe high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy to Medicare beneficiaries.[1] Do I Qualify for SmartVest Under the New CMS Waiver? Beginning March 1, 2020, clinical indications and documentation typically required to prescribe a […]
When your patients experience a severe respiratory infection from a preexisting lung condition like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), providing them access to effective airway clearance therapy is vital to their comfort and relief. It’s also essential to the success of your hospital’s inpatient care program. At Electromed, our team helps physicians across the country […]
According to the American College of CHEST Physicians, one in every five patients hospitalized for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will require rehospitalization within 30 days.[1] COPD exacerbations develop from a severe worsening of symptoms—typically a result of a respiratory infection—and can cause: Narrowing of Airways Mucus Build Up in Airways Swelling […]
As the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to provide updates on recent breakthroughs in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s important to understand the factors that may put us, or someone we care for, at greater risk of respiratory illness. Having this knowledge will help in creating a personal prevention plan that protects […]
Though we may consider coughing a nuisance, it’s actually the body’s natural reflex to help protect us against airborne irritants that enter the lungs.1 But what happens when your cough is unable to clear mucus from the airways? When your lungs lose their ability to mobilize mucus, it leaves your body open to possible infection […]
Understanding the common causes of bronchiectasis and identifying its individual symptoms will empower you to find the best treatment plan for reducing respiratory infections, improving air flow, and preventing further damage to your airways. To help you get familiar with this chronic lung condition and how it can affect your everyday life, here’s the answers […]
As we head into the cold and flu season, you or a loved one may be experiencing mucus buildup in the lungs, also known as phlegm. Though chest congestion can make you feel uncomfortable and cause difficulty with breathing, your body’s natural response is to mobilize mucus buildup in the lungs and cough, causing the […]
Are your patients coming to you with complaints of shortness of breath, chronic cough, or chest pain? Symptoms that look like COPD or asthma may actually be early signs of bronchiectasis, a serious lung disease that irreversibly damages a patient’s airways through recurring inflammation and infection. To properly diagnose your patients with bronchiectasis, you’ll first […]
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are organisms that naturally occur in water and soil.1 When people inhale NTMs, the bacteria travels to their lungs and it could potentially cause a respiratory infection in susceptible individuals. Though most people naturally clear NTMs from their lungs and avoid any serious pulmonary damage, NTM lung infections still affect more than […]
Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is an airway clearance technique that involves manually percussing the chest wall to help clear the lungs of mucus build up. Administered with the help of a caregiver or respiratory therapist, manual CPT is used for patients living with a chronic lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis, where the lungs […]