• Oxygen Therapy
• Respiratory Services
• Infusion Therapy
• CPAP
• Ventilators
• NVS
• Enteral Therapy
• Pediatric Respiratory
      Services
• Patient Education
      Rehabilitation

Oxygen Therapy

Lincare responds to the needs of every patient individually by providing the oxygen system most appropriate for his or her lifestyle. Oxygen concentrators, stationary and portable liquid oxygen systems, and high pressure cylinders are provided according to the physician's prescription and with consideration for the activity level of each patient Lincare regularly monitors how well each respiratory patient follows the prescribed course of treatment, ensuring compliance with liter flow and hours of use. Regularly monitoring patient compliance increases the likelihood that patients will receive the maximum benefit from the prescribed therapy.

Respiratory Therapy

Nebulizers, which aerosolize respiratory medications for direct deposition in the upper and lower airways, are used in the treatment of many diseases, including asthma.

The availability of unit dose respiratory medications delivered to the patient's home ensures proper dosage, prescribed solution strength, and preservation of product sterility. Lincare's unique follow-up program maximizes patient compliance.

Oxygen saturation recording, as well as carbon dioxide trending, are services Lincare can provide to assist physicians in patient management.
Suction equipment and tracheotomy supplies are provided for bronchopulmonary hygiene.

Home Infusion Therapy

Lincare's infusion pharmacies are staffed by teams of experienced, professional clinical pharmacists that are proactively involved in monitoring patient responses and outcomes to prescribed therapies. Lincare's home infusion services are a cost-effective alternative to lengthy hospitalizations and are characterized by:

• 24-hour nursing and clinical pharmacy support
• State-of-the-art, home care-specific medication, supplies and infusion devices
• Extensive total continuous quality improvement program with customized outcome reporting
• Ongoing clinical monitoring to assure therapeutic patient outcomes
• Clinical consultative protocol and nutritional support
• Pre-discharge patient assessment and pharmacy care plan related to specifics of each treatment modality
• Coordination, analysis and trending of laboratory orders
• Therapeutic drug monitoring with pharmacokinetic consultative support
• Patient education regarding therapy, medication, and infusion device
• Pharmaceutical profile review for drug interactions, duplicities, and food incompatibilities
• Adverse effects monitoring and management

Home infusion therapy services provided by Lincare include:

• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
• Antibiotic Therapy
• Pain Management
• Hydration Therapy
• Enteral Therapy
• AIDS Related Therapies
• Inotropic Therapy
• IVIG-Immunoglobulins
• Chemotherapy
• Inhalation Therapy (Pentamidine)
• Tocolytic Therapies

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Sleep disorders adversely affect health, mood, and energy levels. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices maintain open airways in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea by providing airflow at prescribed pressures during sleep.

Most patients receiving CPAP report better quality sleep, more energy, increased alertness, and improved cognitive function. In order for treatment modalities to be effective, patients must be compliant with their prescription. The trained professional staff at Lincare maximizes compliance through careful instruction and follow-up monitoring.

Ventilators

Individuals with severe respiratory failure who can no longer sustain the mechanics of breathing without the assistance of a ventilator find confidence and security within Lincare's ventilator protocols. State-of-the-art equipment combined with clinical expertise and a strong commitment to education and training provide the most stable home environment for the ventilator-dependent patient.

Noninvasive Ventilatory Support

Noninvasive ventilatory support (NVS) provides a means for physicians to intervene earlier in the progression of chronic respiratory disease. The patient advantages of the NVS program include:

• Ventilatory muscle rest
• Improved exercise tolerance
• Improved quality of sleep
• Improved cognitive function
• Decreased hospital days
• Fewer untimely hospital readmissions

The success of the program in supporting the patient and physician is achieved through appropriate patient identification, education and training, and compliance monitoring. The program employs:

• Extensive mask fitting and desensitization
• Effective clinical protocols
• Patient videos and written instructions
• Compliance checks
• Progress reports
• Utilization management information

Enteral THERAPY

Lincare is committed to clinical excellence in enteral therapy services.  Many Lincare locations have registered and licensed dietitians, called Medical Nutritional Specialists, who manage enteral patients from the point of referral until the discontinuation of the feeding tube. Lincare’s Medical Nutrition Specialists receive what many consider the best training in the industry for home enteral therapy interventions.  Lincare’s standard of care for the enteral patient includes complete in-home clinical involvement by our Medical Nutrition Specialists achieved through:

• Initial nutritional assessment
• In-home instruction and set-up for the patient and care person, upon discharge from the hospital or out-patient surgery center.
• 24 hour follow-up after home care  admission and education
• On-going patient follow-up to assess nutritional needs and compliance with feedings
• Feedback to patient’s physician and home health agency
• 24/7 availability

Pediatric Respiratory Services

Lincare's pediatric patients are cared for with special consideration for their age, level of understanding, and functional capabilities. Plans of care developed with the young patient in mind ensure that the most appropriate training and education are provided regarding therapy. Family and caregivers are included in therapy and goals.

Patient Education and Rehabilitation

In keeping with our commitment to respiratory patients and their physicians, Lincare provides a unique home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program individualized to the patient and family. Physicians are kept informed as their patients progress toward increased independence and ability to perform self-care activities, improved psycho-social coping skills, and enhanced compliance with prescribed therapies