This document provides information on oxygen therapy, including:
1. It describes how oxygen is essential for life and obtained through breathing, but some disease processes can prevent sufficient oxygen from reaching tissues.
2. Oxygen therapy requires a doctor's order to specify the method of administration and flow rate, and medical assistants are not allowed to change the flow rate without proper training and order.
3. The three main oxygen sources are wall oxygen, oxygen cylinders, and oxygen concentrators. Wall oxygen is pumped into rooms from outlets controlled by flow meters, while cylinders and concentrators must be set up at the bedside.
