Patients with tracheostomies are frequently complex requiring multiple levels of specialist and subspecialist care. Often these patients are in the emergency department and on the hospital floors. Even if the PA is not the primary care provider for the tracheostomy itself, having a foundational knowledge of tracheostomies will allow for better care of the patient and will allow the PA to react to any tracheostomy-related complications that may arise.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:
Recognize common medical conditions requiring tracheostomy
Describe common tracheostomy tubes, accessories, and basic care
Develop treatment plans for common complications of tracheostomy tubes
