During the recent pandemic, Respiratory Therapist were critical members of the medical teams that led the way in healthcare nationwide. Thrust into unchartered territory, Phillip took control and led the way. However, that is only one aspect of his extraordinary commitment to improving the quality of health and closing the healthcare disparity gap to the communities’ Southern Regional serves.
When the pandemic dust settled, Phillip, a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Neonatal – Pediatric Specialist, set his sights on assuring that newborns delivered at Southern Regional would have access to critical specialty care and developed and implemented an evidence-based iNO (Nitric Oxide Gas) program in the hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. That means that newborns in respiratory distress are able to be treated local with iNO which relaxes smooth muscles to widen blood vessels, especially in the lungs, and provides breathing relieve. Treating premature babies with nitric oxide gas has been proven to help prevent chronic lung disease and may also protect against brain injury. Most importantly, these critical babies do not have to be transferred to another care facility during their most compromising time. These infants stay in the hospital’s NICU, where they receive iNO care and are closely monitored by a member of the Respiratory Therapy team.
“Phillip is a leader dedicated to assuring high-quality care in respiratory therapy,” stated Janie Hinton, Chief Nursing Officer at Southern Regional. “He saw a need – a gap in healthcare services – and he worked tirelessly to align vendors and product, completed and processed agreements, and educated clinical teams to bring this critical program to infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension in our community.”
With nearly 40 years of experience in respiratory therapy, Phillip has been a member of the Southern Regional Respiratory Therapy team for 32 years and was named as the unit’s Director this year. He holds a BS: Respiratory Degree from Pearl River University School of Respiratory Medicine in Poplarville, MS.