Respiratory Care

Respiratory Care Services provides both diagnostic studies and respiratory care for inpatients and outpatients.  Registered and certified respiratory care practitioners provide all therapeutic procedures including inhaled medications, postural drainage, airway care and oxygen therapy.  The department and the medical staff treat patients with acute and chronic diseases, post surgical patients, chest trauma and coronary disease among others.

Pulmonary diagnostic services offered through the Respiratory Care Department include arterial blood gas sampling, oximetry, capnography, sleep studies and pulmonary function studies.  Cardiac studies include holter monitoring and graded exercise cardiac studies.  Vascular studies include carotid, venous and arterial doppler.  Neurologic studies include EEG and EMG (nerve conduction studies) and polysomnography.  

Sleep studies are used to identify life-threatening sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and other problems interfering with sleep.  These studies are done initially to diagnose problems, but may be repeated to determine effective treatment.