“Finally, a manual suction device available to Hospice for Continuous Care LPN’s. I recently used the Palliative Pros manual suction device on a private duty hospice patient with end stage CHF. The manual suction device worked like a charm, it was powerful, easy-to-use, and easy to dispose of. I would use the manual suction device again on any patient in a drowning crisis.”
Anne, Continuous Care LPN
“Recently, I was visiting one of my patients living in a facility. He was alone without family or friends, and transitioning to imminent status and gurgling heavily. He was literally drowning in his own secretions. This particular facility does not allow suction machines in the patient’s rooms. It was breaking my heart that I could not suction him and alleviate his discomfort. It is time for hospice to supply the field nurses with manual suction devices.”
Michael, RN, Hospice Case Manager
“Throughout my 16 year career in hospice as a nurse and Clinical Manager for 24 Hour Crisis Care, On-Call, and Triage, too often I experienced patients who need immediate assistance when ‘drowning’ in their own secretions. To dispel a myth that excessive secretions don’t bother the hospice patient, I recall when a comatose patient awakened to ask, ‘Please help me, and I am drowning!’ If every hospice nurse carried a RespRelief Pump in their car stock, significant suffering could be diminished. After all, this is the essence of palliative care. I believe this product is cost effective, easy to use and will easily fit into hospice’s budget. In addition, this device is on the cutting edge of what is needed to improve palliative and practical hospice care.”
Sandra Grischy, RN, BSN, CHPN
“Donna Morgan has made it her personal mission to get the device included in the car kit of hospice nurses nationwide. She is very passionate about her mission due to her numerous experiences in the field feeling helpless while patients go imminent and there is nothing the nurse can do to clear the airways until the DME Company delivers an electric suction machine. A manual suction device can be used by the hospice nurse during the time (up to 3 hours) between the patient going imminent and the DME Company showing up with the suction machine. Perhaps you’ve been in the situation where the patient is in extreme discomfort and you are powerless to help while the family looks to her to ‘do something.’ Providing field nurses with a manual suction device will give them the ability to ‘do something’ during this crucial
time… it works very well and we can definitely see where it would fit a hospice need and could be very beneficial.”
Joey Graham, Director of Operations and Administrations, Gulf Medical Services, Inc.
I contacted Donna Morgan to inquire about the RespRelief Pump and our agency was sent two suction kits for a trial. With the hospice director’s permission and an order from our medical director, I was able to provide these to two families, one with an elderly spouse and one with adult children. The first family were nervous and non-medical and horrified at the secretions. The manual suction pump was easy to demonstrate how to use and clean. They understood the device was only to be used for secretions that could be seen. Being able to use the RespRelief Pump so easily gave them an effective tool that provided relief to the patient and themselves. For the second family, the suction device was used by an elderly spouse who found it easy to use and was so grateful to have it for the unusually large amount of oral secretions.
We contract with a supplier in our area for the standard large loud electric suction devices, often there is not an available surface and emptying the container can be cumbersome. I want to see the RespRelief Pump as standard equipment we have on hand for us to use much the same as a catheter insertion tray or central line dressing kit. Medicare reimbursement for the product make it accessible for all agencies to offer.
Diane V, RN CHPN