This is lifted form the bureau of labor statistics.<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Respiratory therapists perform chest physiotherapy on patients to remove
mucus from their lungs and make it easier for them to breathe.
Therapists place patients in positions that help drain mucus, and then
vibrate the patients' rib cages, often by tapping on the chest, and tell
the patients to cough. Chest physiotherapy may be needed after
surgery, for example, because anesthesia depresses respiration. As a
result, physiotherapy may be prescribed to help get the patient's lungs
back to normal and to prevent congestion. Chest physiotherapy also
helps patients suffering from lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis,
that cause mucus to collect in the lungs."<br><br>My first seven patients as a physical therapist were all postural drainage. I do think LouLou is right about following through with the hospital administration, including the supervisor. Start with a letter to CEO, copy to hospital admin for that service, RT supervisor, your state representatives (always a plus to keep CF in front of the law makers) - if you're Medicare also district congressman/woman and both Senators or to your private carrier: a) state the date, time, and name of RT's failing to provide it. b) verify RT was written in the orders of your chart. If not c) speak with the pulmonologist, hospitalist, or your PCP about the experience. Don't worry about recrimination by hospital (malpractice) and try to have a witness there when hospitalized. It all is about advocacy and in truth it is fraud if billed with a CPT code defining Postural drainage. My experience personally through observation and in conversation with cf patients is the poor centers use a coddling warm fuzzy approach while killing through incompetent administration of physician direction. They have to be afraid of you if they aren't making you satisfied. I personally observed 2 RT's in a hospital, on different visits, provide zero sound or concussive care. I offered to do it myself but was not accepted as any of my business (interfering with the comfort zone), which however could have been under my license but probably not under institutional insurance liability. The poor care was a mortal blow.<br>
mucus from their lungs and make it easier for them to breathe.
Therapists place patients in positions that help drain mucus, and then
vibrate the patients' rib cages, often by tapping on the chest, and tell
the patients to cough. Chest physiotherapy may be needed after
surgery, for example, because anesthesia depresses respiration. As a
result, physiotherapy may be prescribed to help get the patient's lungs
back to normal and to prevent congestion. Chest physiotherapy also
helps patients suffering from lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis,
that cause mucus to collect in the lungs."<br><br>My first seven patients as a physical therapist were all postural drainage. I do think LouLou is right about following through with the hospital administration, including the supervisor. Start with a letter to CEO, copy to hospital admin for that service, RT supervisor, your state representatives (always a plus to keep CF in front of the law makers) - if you're Medicare also district congressman/woman and both Senators or to your private carrier: a) state the date, time, and name of RT's failing to provide it. b) verify RT was written in the orders of your chart. If not c) speak with the pulmonologist, hospitalist, or your PCP about the experience. Don't worry about recrimination by hospital (malpractice) and try to have a witness there when hospitalized. It all is about advocacy and in truth it is fraud if billed with a CPT code defining Postural drainage. My experience personally through observation and in conversation with cf patients is the poor centers use a coddling warm fuzzy approach while killing through incompetent administration of physician direction. They have to be afraid of you if they aren't making you satisfied. I personally observed 2 RT's in a hospital, on different visits, provide zero sound or concussive care. I offered to do it myself but was not accepted as any of my business (interfering with the comfort zone), which however could have been under my license but probably not under institutional insurance liability. The poor care was a mortal blow.<br>