What does it take to have a successful noninvasive ventilation program?

The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has dramatically increased over the last decade. This increase is multifaceted with regard to the number of patients receiving NIV and in the increasingly varied disease conditions for which NIV is being used. Successful development of an NIV program depends on many variables, but perhaps most important is a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates experience and education. Many aspects of an NIV program must come together to make it successful for both patients and clinicians. Among these are needs assessment, institutional buy-in, use of proper equipment, staff and patient training, protocols/guidelines, and outcomes. We analyze these issues and identify characteristics that produce a successful NIV program.