Criteria for establishing units for chronic ventilator-dependent patients in hospitals

These guidelines were developed by the American Association for Respiratory Care in response to a request by the Health Care Financing Administration for professional assistance in defining criteria for establishment of demonstration units for management of chronic ventilator-dependent patients in hospitals. Although the exact method by which these demonstration units (3 to 5 in number) will be selected has not been announced, these guidelines will have an important role in assuring that appropriate sites are chosen and that patient selection and data collection are adequate to document the possible benefits of such units.