Respiratory therapist draws on own experiences to help others

By Zoe Walsh, zwalsh@iuhealth.org, Communications intern for IU Health's Metro Region

Restful sleep is a key factor in maintaining overall health of the body. Lisa Keith, a respiratory therapist at IU Health Fishers, works to help patients get the best sleep possible.

Keith works in the hospital’s Sleep Education Center, teaching patients about sleeping disorders. She has been working for IU Health for 10 years, originally starting at Riley Hospital for Children before coming to IU Health Fishers in January.

Keith's main focus is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

“Our team educates on exactly what sleep apnea is, and then we proceed with educating patients on their continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and how to use that. We provide care for pediatric patients all the way up to adult patients,” Keith explains.

The entire team at the Sleep Diagnostic Lab and Sleep Education Center work together to find a solution for patients with sleeping disorders.

“Our team is a cohesive team. We have a camaraderie between all of us and the care that we provide for the patients is really what our hearts desire. So, we want to make sure that they are educated in such a way that when they go home, they feel secure knowing how to use their machine,” Keith explains.

Keith herself uses a sleeping machine. Her firsthand experience has helped her tremendously with her role.

“I love this job hands down, because education is a part of me. So, when I got this opportunity to educate and to be one on one with patients, now I can help them not be so anxious about the diagnosis that they have,” she says.

Overall, one of Keith’s favorite things about her role is seeing patients experience a better quality of life.

“When [sleeping disorders] are left untreated, that's when it hurts the patient. The more persistent, the more encouraging that we are in helping them find the right mask is the key,” she says. “Making sure that patients are comfortable and able to maintain sleep throughout the night helps patients get better as they go on this journey.”

Are you looking to be part of a collaborative team that makes a real impact? Visit careers.iuhealth.org to learn more.