CRMC-West 214 E. 23 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
CRMC-East 2600 E. 18 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Health & Fitness 1620 E. Pershing, Cheyenne, WY 82001

(307) 634-CARE

Bi-level Ventilation

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Wyoming using a new technology called Bi-level Ventilation. Originally designed for treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), the BI-level system provides a more effective method of delivering oxygen to respiratory patients.

The new breathing machine enables patients needing respiratory assistance to breathe spontaneously. This allows for a higher degree of comfort, decreases time on the ventilator by 50%, increases survival rates, shortens the hospital stay and saves money for the patient.

"For patients in respiratory distress, the use of BI-level technology can provide results in hours rather than days." Steve Carlson, Registered Respiratory Therapist, (RRT), said.

By providing a more comfortable way for the patient to breathe, fewer drugs are required to immobilize them. In the past, a patient was immobilized by the amount of drugs that was necessary to prescribe because of the natural reflex to remove the tube from their throat. That meant more expense, and more time spent monitoring the patient.

A 50% reduction on the ventilator means that there is 43% less use of sedating drugs; at an average decrease of 5 days on the ventilator resulting in a savings of $3,750. This reduction also correlates closely to a reduction in the length of the hospital stay.
The patient is awake and able to interact with family as the BI-level system allows for spontaneous breathing without disrupting the ventilator process.

"It's the best thing in the world for patients," Bob Downey, RRT, and Cardiopulmonary educator, said.

Carlson and Downey attended follow-up training at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Their abilities have made it possible for CRMC to become a training center to teach respiratory therapists from other hospitals. CRMC is one of six hospitals nationwide to receive the Center of Excellence designation award from Puritan Bennett, the maker of the ventilator.

CRMC staff physician, Harmon H. Davis, MD, Internal Medicine-Pulmonology, has been a proponent of BI-level and has had very successful outcomes when treating patients.

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