The Intensive Care Unit at Pembroke Regional Hospital is marking a major milestone with the introduction of a specialized clinical technique aimed at improving outcomes for critically ill patients.
Staff are now trained to perform proning, a therapy used to treat severe respiratory failure, including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The method involves carefully positioning sedated, ventilated patients face-down to improve lung function and oxygen levels.
Hospital officials say the procedure requires a highly coordinated team and extensive planning to ensure patient safety. Previously, patients needing proning were transferred to Ottawa for treatment.
The hospital completed its first proning case in early February, with staff describing the effort as a significant step forward in delivering advanced care closer to home.
(Richard Evans)