Tag: Richard Kenney

Top Five Patient Safety Interviews

In honor of the fifth anniversary of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS), PPAHS today announced the top five patient safety interviews by PPAHS.

“To increase awareness and promote discussion about and practical solutions for patient safety issues, PPAHS interviews doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and patients’ families,” said Michael Wong, JD (Executive Director, PPAHS).

By the number of views, the five most popular interviews on the PPAHS YouTube channel are: Continue reading “Top Five Patient Safety Interviews” →

5 Keys to Safer Hospital Sedation

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder/Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Conscious sedation is routinely used with patients so that they can tolerate procedures that may cause them discomfort, anxiety, or pain. Some of the tests and procedures conscious sedation may be used for are:

  • Breast biopsy
  • Dental prosthetic or reconstructive surgery
  • Minor bone fracture repair
  • Minor foot surgery
  • Minor skin surgery
  • Plastic or reconstructive surgery
  • Procedures to diagnose and treat some stomach (upper endoscopy), colon (colonoscopy), lung (bronchoscopy), and bladder (cystoscopy) conditions.

Conscious sedation may also be used with pediatric patients or adult patients who may have difficulty remaining still for certain tests and medical procedures. Continue reading “5 Keys to Safer Hospital Sedation” →

Three Must Knows Before Using Naloxone to Reverse the Effects of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression

To reverse the effects of opioid-induced respiratory depression, the FDA recommends the use of naloxone:

When someone overdoses on an opioid, it can be difficult to awaken the person, and breathing may become shallow or stop – leading to death if there is no medical intervention. If naloxone is administered quickly, it can counter the overdose effects, usually within two minutes.

However, there are three must knows before using naloxone to reverse the effects of opioid-induced respiratory depression. Continue reading “Three Must Knows Before Using Naloxone to Reverse the Effects of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression” →

Reducing Rapid Response Calls by 50% and Avoiding Respiratory Depression During Conscious Sedation: An Interview with Richard Kenney, RRT

by Michael Wong, JD (Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles has experienced a “better than fifty percent reduction in calls of rapid responses”, according to Richard Kenney, MSM, RRT, NPS, ACCS, RCP (Director, Respiratory Care Services, White Memorial Medical Center).

To better understand what Adventist Health hospitals have done to reduce rapid response calls and improve patient safety and health outcomes, the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS) interviewed Mr. Kenney.

In this interview titled, “Avoiding Respiratory Depression During Conscious Sedation”, Mr. Kenney says using capnography monitoring has reduced rapid response calls by more than 50%.

Continue reading “Reducing Rapid Response Calls by 50% and Avoiding Respiratory Depression During Conscious Sedation: An Interview with Richard Kenney, RRT” →

How to Avoid Respiratory Depression During Conscious Sedation

A podcast interview soon to be released by the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety will detail one hospital’s experience in avoiding respiratory depression during conscious sedation. The podcast will feature Richard Kenney, MSM, RRT, NPS, ACCS, RCP (Director, Respiratory Care Services, White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles).

Mr Kenney recently wrote an article for Advance for Respiratory Care and Sleep Medicine, “Essential Capnography” in which he describes how patient monitoring is a fundamental tool of the care team at White Memorial Medical Center.

Continue reading “How to Avoid Respiratory Depression During Conscious Sedation” →