Joseph Zalocha: Understanding Ventilator Management

Throughout his career, Joseph Zalocha has witnessed many advancements in the treatment of ICU patients and the equipment used to help improve ICU patient health, getting them out of intensive care sooner. As the Director of ICU at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, he has long been interested in improving ventilator management and other critical organ support functions.

Ventilator management focuses on the initiating, monitoring, and adjusting ventilators according to what the patient’s medical condition is and how they are responding to treatment. It requires selecting the right ventilator mode and settings and changing them as needed. In critical care settings, like the ICU, a respiratory therapist, under the direction of the doctor, will handle the ventilator management. They must work together with the nurses to provide the highest level of care for the patient.  

The first thing that needs to be determined in ventilation management is what mode will be most beneficial for the patient and the appropriate settings. The ventilator settings can include the level of pressure and the volume of air delivered to the lungs. Once the initial mode is set, the nurses and therapist monitor the patient to gauge their response to the method of ventilation. Therapists monitor the patient's lung sounds, oxygen saturation levels, and watch for signs that the patient is fighting the ventilator. 

The primary goal of critical care doctors like Joseph Zalocha is to wean patients off the ventilator. It is essential for them to access the patient carefully and conduct the appropriate tests to determine if a patient is ready to be weaned off the ventilator.