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Department Spotlight: Respiratory Care

By: Alana Ridge

August 31, 2023

This Department Spotlight is dedicated to Jason Simpson, Manager of Respiratory Services at Renown Children’s Hospital. 

Take a moment to breathe deeply. Inhale in, exhale out. We rely on our lungs to provide us with the air we need to live a healthy life – and this essential bodily function is something that many of us don’t think twice about since it comes easily for us. Now, imagine yourself as someone who is living with severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or someone who was recently diagnosed with a frightening respiratory condition like COVID-19 or pneumonia. The simple act of breathing can prove to be an intimidating venture requiring the care of a professional. Who are the people that take on the challenge? 

Meet Renown Health’s Respiratory Care Services department. Serving patients across 13 service lines, three acute facilities, outpatient locations and telehealth, our respiratory specialists – including respiratory therapists, respiratory care aides, inpatient COPD respiratory therapy navigators and educators and more – use their expertise to help restore the vitality of all their patients with every inhale and exhale, shaping a healthier livelihood one lung at a time. 

The Guardians of Respiratory Wellness 

Whether they are managing lifelong respiratory conditions or offering crucial support in emergencies, the Respiratory Care team strives to enhance the quality of life for every patient. As an indispensable member of the clinical team at Renown, our respiratory therapists work collaboratively with doctors and nurses to tackle a wide range of tasks, tailoring care for each patient’s unique needs. 

“Respiratory care is involved with all stages of life, from beginning to end,” said Sarah Kurtz, Respiratory Therapist. “We work closely with nurses and doctors and perform arterial punctures, breathing treatments, weaning maneuvers for patients on life support, intubations and much more. We assess patients constantly to see if their care needs to be upgraded or if they can be weaned to get them back home with their families.” 

“You start your morning researching your assigned patients,” added Tim Start, Respiratory Specialist. “We go over lab values and chest radiographs and decide the best plan of care for each patient. Our objective is to improve their respiratory status by giving them medications and doing breathing exercises. We participate in other forms of care with nurses, such as activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobilization. We work as a team, and that enables us to provide great patient care.” 

For patients living with COPD, enjoying all that life has to offer comes with a separate set of obstacles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 200,000 people across the Silver State are living with this chronic condition. Luckily for them, Renown has a specialized team to help these patients optimize their life and manage their condition with individualized treatment and education. 

“We run a report every morning to identify all the patients currently admitted who have a history of COPD, take respiratory medications or smoke,” said Amber Beck, Inpatient COPD RT Navigator. “After looking through their charts, we visit with the patient (and possibly their family) at the bedside to help them better understand how to manage their breathing issues.” 

As a vital part of the Respiratory Care team, Renown’s respiratory care aides help ensure the seamless operation of our respiratory care services. These dedicated professionals provide essential support to respiratory therapists not only during intricate procedures but also outside of face-to-face patient care by transporting equipment, restocking supplies, assisting in the mobilization of patients and more. 

“We are responsible for the maintenance of unit supplies and making decisions regarding levels of stock to be maintained,” said Dia Ramos, Respiratory Care Aide. “We also transport equipment, refill the oxygen tanks on the floors and intensive care units (ICUs), order and stock respiratory care supplies, mobilize patients and assist the respiratory therapists during bronchoscopies in the ICUs. In addition, we clean respiratory equipment like mechanical ventilators, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilateral positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines, high flows and aerosol poles.” 

Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a special spotlight shined upon respiratory care teams across the country for the heroic care they provided patients in respiratory distress. While their roles in health systems have gained a better understanding nationwide, this team understands it is vital for them to educate the community about the important jobs they hold for our patients. 

“Respiratory care can be under the radar,” said Pam Umek, Respiratory Specialist. “Once, when I told someone that I am a Respiratory Therapist, they said, ‘Oh, like a yoga breathing instructor?’ I then explained all the things we do: intubation, extubation, bronchoscopies, transports, traumas, codes, rapid responses, pediatrics/NICU, breathing medications/therapies, open heart rapid ventilator weaning … needless to say, that individual walked away with a better understanding of not just Respiratory Care Services but also the enormous effort it takes to care for our community.” 

The accolades and achievements continue to pour in, from national awards and certifications to implementing different jobs in care units to optimize the patient care experience. 

“We have earned and continue to maintain the Joint Commission Disease-Specific Certification for COPD,” said Amber Beck. “We are well below national averages for 30-day readmissions, lengths of stay and mortality due to COPD. Sandy, one of our COPD Coordinators, was a recipient of a patient advocacy award from the American Association of Respiratory Care and FACES Foundation.” 

“We have started implementing Respiratory Care Aides in the critical units, starting with the Cardiac ICU,” added Dia Ramos. “We work as one team and are always helping each other with their tasks.” 

Education and mentorship are at the core of Renown’s mission to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of every patient. Nurturing the next generation of medical professionals – including respiratory care professionals – is a task that the Respiratory Care team takes seriously. 

“It has been great being able to help educate students in different disciplines,” added Pam Umek. “We have been able to offer shadow shifts to students in emergency medical services (EMS), nursing and medical school. These opportunities help students entering the medical field have a better understanding of the many ways we can help care for our respiratory patients.” 

From the moment of birth to the final stages of life, Renown is fortunate to have a Respiratory Care team that tirelessly ensures every breath counts, safeguarding their role as a trusted partner within our health system. 

A Tribute to Jason Simpson, Healthcare Hero 

When a healthcare hero makes their mark on a patient’s life, their impact on our health system can be felt from miles away. This especially rings true for Jason Simpson, a heroic respiratory care specialist, trusted leader and NICU transport lifesaver. A beloved figure in the Respiratory Care department and within Renown Children’s Hospital, the team looks to Jason for expert guidance and a stellar example of leading with care and compassion. 

A recent illustration of his heroism can be found in his efforts to save the lives of babies in critical condition who need swift transportation to the hospital. Very early one morning, one of Renown’s rural health partners called Jason and the NICU Transport team with a patient who was incredibly sick and on a life support medical device that was not working as expected. Jason immediately sprang into action and drove out to the rural facility to meet the team having trouble and perform life-saving care. His actions were invaluable to the team and ultimately improved the outcome of the patient. 

“Jason is the embodiment of our organizational culture and value of excellence,” said Jason Farnsworth, Director of Respiratory Care Services. “The unwavering dedication Jason demonstrates at all times is remarkable, and he represents our organization with pride and excellence.” 

The world of Renown Respiratory Care was shaken when they learned the shocking news that Jason experienced a traumatic, life-altering injury. 

In late June while on a summer adventure in Elko, Nevada, Jason was involved in a serious dirt biking accident and suffered significant injuries to his vertebrae and spinal cord. He was immediately taken to nearby Salt Lake City by helicopter, for the fight for his life. While there are many unknowns regarding his long road to recovery, Jason is stable and constantly surrounded by his loving wife Alisha, two sons, parents, family members and his Renown colleagues. 

Courageous and strong, the Respiratory Care team is confident that Jason will heal and rebuild himself around the loss and injuries he has faced. This experience is a testament to both Jason’s perseverance and the rallying support of the entire department. 

“Despite his injuries, Jason remains an incredible father, husband, friend, leader and member of our Renown Health family,” said Jason Farnsworth. 

Jason Farnsworth is exactly right – this team treats each other like family, and regardless of the situation, they are committed to Fighting the Good Fight together. 

Breathe Easy with a Career at Renown 

Discovering a career that cares about you is simple when it comes to the Respiratory Care department – and they are currently hiring people like you. According to this team, choosing Renown for the next part of their career journey was an easy decision. 

“I heard good things about Renown in the community and was made aware of the many educational opportunities here, so I applied,” said Tim Start. “What keeps me here is the people I work with and the satisfaction I get from caring for our patients.” 

“I was impressed by the focus on quality patient care and the collaborative environment that I saw when we visited our friend who just gave birth,” added Dia Ramos. “I really believe that this is the kind of setting where I can thrive as I pursue my profession in respiratory therapy and provide the best possible care for my future patients.” 

Many of these team members report an inciting moment or experience that helped them solidify their choice to enter the respiratory care field. Seeing respiratory therapists enjoy their jobs first-hand and having family members with chronic respiratory conditions are among the most common sources of inspiration within this department. 

“When I first graduated college, I was still unsure of what I wanted to pursue for a career, but I remembered looking into respiratory therapy when I was career hunting in high school,” said Pam Umek. “So, I chose to work at Renown in Patient Transport. I was able to ask the respiratory therapists about their job, how they got into it and why they’ve stuck with it. Every respiratory therapist I asked said that they loved their job, and now I’ve been a respiratory therapist for ten years!” 

“Growing up, members of my family had asthma, but when my grandpa got diagnosed with COPD, I learned more about the respiratory care field,” added Sarah Kurtz. “I was excited for the opportunities Renown would provide for growth, and I knew I would be exposed to many different patient situations. On top of that, the Reno-Tahoe area offers many different activities that continue to grow.” 

Renown Health is proud to become a nationwide training hub for developing highly skilled military medics, nurses and respiratory therapists to ensure some of the highest, continuous medical care. Several individuals from our military have chosen to leverage the skills they learned in service and Fight the Good Fight alongside Renown’s respiratory specialists. 

“I have been in healthcare since joining the U.S. Army as a medic in 1996,” said Amber Beck. “I became a U.S. Army respiratory specialist in 1999. I have continued to work in respiratory therapy since being discharged in 2021. Eventually, I became a COPD Coordinator in 2021.” 

Having a patient-first approach coupled with a team-centered attitude is key to succeeding on the Respiratory Care team. Anyone who meets these individuals will quickly discover that every one of them has a dedication to positivity and keeping team morale high. 

“What makes a good coworker is dedication to doing what is best for the patient,” said Amber Beck. “We are trained to use our assessment skills and know how to help our patients breathe better. It is also important to work as a team and respect and help one another.” 

“A good coworker comes to work each day with an upbeat attitude,” added Dia Ramos. “They try to spread positivity to their colleagues and help them feel excited to be at work.” 

“The way our assignments work is that we are typically assigned to a unit solo or with only one other respiratory therapist, or we are assigned to multiple floors, for being a good team player and willing to help makes all the difference in staff morale and patient care,” added Pam Umek. 

The population of northern Nevada continues to grow at a steady rate each year. As our number of residents expands, so does the need for healthcare locally, especially respiratory care. For this team, training and upskilling are crucial. 

“With Reno’s ever-growing population, we have been expanding our staff at Renown Children’s Hospital, which takes a lot of training from the knowledgeable senior staff,” said Sarah Kurtz. “On top of constant training, we have added new roles and currently take out-of-house NICU transport calls 24/7. It is a lot of change and growth all at once."

With a growth mindset at the forefront of their care philosophy, the Respiratory Care team is poised to give best-in-class care to patients for years to come.