Why have heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) become standard of care after laryngectomy but not yet for tracheostomy?
That question was at the heart of our recent Atos Medical webinar, Optimizing Outcomes with Standardized Tracheostomy and Laryngectomy HME Use, now available in our on‑demand learning library.
About the webinar
This course explores the critical role of artificial humidification for patients with surgical airways and reviews the growing body of evidence supporting HME use across care settings. While HME use following total laryngectomy is widely accepted, many facilities continue to rely on external humidification for tracheostomy - despite well‑documented challenges related to mobility, sleep, patient satisfaction, staff burden, and cost. The webinar highlights outcomes from a Stanford clinical study describing the benefits of transitioning from external humidification to HME use for patients with a tracheostomy, underscoring that it is time to shift tracheostomy humidification practices toward routine HME use.
From evidence to implementation
Beyond the “why,” this course focuses on the “how,” offering practical strategies to implement and sustain standardized HME use across both laryngectomy and tracheostomy populations. Viewers will gain insight into multidisciplinary collaboration, staff education, and a structured, evidence‑informed approach to driving practice change toward HME implementation and standardization.
The webinar also highlights Atos Medical clinical support programs, including the Laryngectomy Pulmonary Kit and the TrachPhone Implementation Program, designed to support HME adoption and lasting change.
Watch the webinar
Access the on‑demand webinar today to learn how standardizing HME use can improve outcomes. This on-demand course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs. Use the button below to get registered and download the handout to use as a reference!