Our Respiratory Care Department provides a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services to both inpatients and outpatients. Registered respiratory therapists and certified respiratory therapists work under the direction of a medical director to provide this range of services.
Diagnostic services include:
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Pulmonary function testing: spirometry, body plethysmography, diffusion capacity and arterial blood gas analysis
- High altitude arterial blood gas simulation
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- Exercise laryngoscopy
- Pulmonary stress testing
- Conventional video bronchoscopy
- Endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle biopsy
- Oximetry
- Auto CPAP analysis
- Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB)
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Placement of fiducial markers for stereotactic radiation
- Gas exchange testing
Therapeutic services include:
- Oxygen therapy
- Mechanical ventilatory support and artificial airway support
- Postural drainage and chest physiotherapy
- Administration of aerosol medications
- Bronchopulmonary hygiene therapy
- High flow/high velocity oxygen therapy
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
The department provides a pulmonary rehabilitation program for people with chronic lung disease such as bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. Participants meet twice a week for eight weeks and receive education, breathing training and exercise. The program involves health care professionals from pharmacy, dietary, occupational therapy, social work and infection control. The rehab program also offers a maintenance phase of exercise three times per week.
COPD Program
The department has established a standard of care for acute exacerbation of COPD patients by creating a chronic disease management program for mild to very severe COPD patients. The COPD program improves patient outcomes and reduces health care resource utilization.