Abstract
A major medical social problem at present is the need for care of patients with chronic or prolonged illness. This is particularly true in the case of respiratory disease, which has undergone major strides in prolonging life through the increased use of respirators and improved methods of medical care. In response to this need, St. Paul, Minnesota's Bethesda Lutheran Medical Center opened a prolonged respiratory care unit on Aug 21, 1979. A review and general assessment of this operation is presented. At the time of this review, the unit has been open for approximately 18 months. The obvious benefits in terms of patient care cost as well as the improvement in patient quality of life inherent in this type of specialized unit, which has an adequately trained staff, are described.
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