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Among a select group of facilities worldwide, Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS) has been recognized and named a PassyMuir® Center of Excellence. Through the Centers of Excellence Program, Passy-Muir, Inc. recognizes healthcare facilities that have demonstrated outstanding teamwork, education and utilization of the PassyMuir Valve in providing tracheostomized and mechanically ventilated patients a step toward independence and enhanced quality of life.

The PassyMuir Valve enables patients to speak and eat early in recovery, even while they are on the ventilator. “This gives patients a sense of hope, empowerment and motivation to work with the nurses and therapists to get stronger and go home sooner,” stated Buffy Buchanan, Supervisor of Speech Pathology, NWTHS.  

While the PassyMuir Valve is commonly used in facilities around the nation, NWTHS has met a set of high standards which facilitates early and successful use of the valve with patients. The keys to success include the development of a multi-disciplinary trach team to care for these patients and advanced education and skills training in the use of this technology.

“Being named a Center of Excellence demonstrates NWTHS’s commitment to providing the highest level of care," said Susan Gandy, Respiratory Therapy Coordinator, NWTHS. "The team worked hard together for this recognition so that patients, family members and other clinicians in the community will know that we have a unique set of skills and experience to care for these patients with exceptional outcomes."

Since implementation of the multidisciplinary trach team, NWTHS has experienced a decrease in ventilator dependence and a decrease in the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia. Patient’s length of stay has decreased by 50%. Patients are also being decannulated twice as quickly. With these improved outcomes, NWTHS is now the model of care for the Panhandle of Texas and is the only trauma facility in the US to receive this designation. 

Learn more about Passy-Muir, Inc. >