Cardiopulmonary Department

What does our Cardiopulmonary Department do?

Cardiopulmonary DepartmenttSummit Healthcare’s Cardiopulmonary Department diagnoses and treats health problems associated with the heart and lungs. Care is delivered to patients with asthma, COPD, respiratory failure, pneumonia, RSV, CHF, MI, and other diseases that can affect the cardiac and pulmonary system. We have a 4 bed sleep lab for diagnosis and treatment of sleep related breathing disorders. Our Neurodiagnostic department provides Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Nerve conduction studies.

The Cardiopulmonary Department provides services 24 hours a day.

16 team members working in a multi-disciplinary environment to provide patients with the best care possible.

The respiratory care staff is credentialed with the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and licensed in the State of Arizona

All staff in the sleep lab is credentialed by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).

Our EEG staff member is registered by the American Board of Registration Of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET)

Whether you’re an inpatient or outpatient we will evaluate your heart, lung, sleep, or neurological function. Our staff will consult with physicians to provide services including assessment, evaluation and treatment of patients with pulmonary, sleep, neurological or cardiac impairment and assessment of the treatment effectiveness. The department provides care to patients of all ages.

How will I know if I need Cardiopulmonary care?

Patients may be referred for cardiopulmonary care after experiencing a cardiac or respiratory event or illness. Cardiopulmonary care can help people recover from:

  • Heart surgery or valve replacement
  • Heart attack
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) or other arrhythmias
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Endocarditis
  • Pacemaker implant
  • Pneumonia
  • Asthma
  • Emphysema
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep disorders

How does Summit Healthcare Test for Pulmonary Function?

he always has the answers picture id1140395527 copyPulmonary function tests (PFTs) are conducted to evaluate how well the lungs are working. The two common types of PFT are spirometry and plethysmography.

  • Spirometry measures lung function as the patient breathes into a mouthpiece that is connected to a small electronic machine.
  • Plethysmography is conducted within an airtight box in which the patient sits or stands.

Either form of PFT provides the necessary information to help diagnose and treat various conditions that obstruct or restrict adequate breathing. Some of the measurements obtained through pulmonary function testing include:

  • Tidal volume (VT)- the amount of air inhaled and exhaled during normal breathing.
  • Minute volume (MV)- the total amount of air exhaled per minute.
  • Vital capacity (VC)- the total volume of air that can be exhaled after inhaling as deeply as possible.
  • Functional residual capacity (FRC)- the amount of air that remains in the lungs after exhaling normally.
  • Residual volume- the amount of air left in the lungs after exhaling as much as possible.
  • Total lung capacity– the total volume of air that the lungs can hold.
  • Forced vital capacity (FVC)– the amount of air one can exhale quickly and forcefully after inhaling as deeply as possible.
  • Forced expiratory volume (FEV)- the amount of air exhaled during the first, second, and third seconds of the FVC test.
  • Forced expiratory flow (FEF)– the average rate of airflow halfway through the FVC test.
  • Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)– the rate of speed at which air can be expired from the lungs.
  • Values obtained during PFTs are compared to the norm for a patient’s age, sex, race, and height. These tests may be repeated periodically and compared to previous values.

Cardiopulmonary Services

Our services include:

  • EEG
  • Nerve Conduction Studies
  • Pulmonary Function
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • EKG
  • Stress Testing
  • Cardiac Ambulatory Monitoring

What is stress testing?

A cardiac stress test is conducted to evaluate how the heart works during physical exertion. When we exercise, the heart pumps faster and harder. During this test, the patient walks on a treadmill or rides a stationary bike while the heart is monitored via electrodes placed in the chest.

The electrodes measure breathing, blood pressure, and heart rhythm. Stress testing may be recommended for patients who show signs of irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or coronary artery disease.

What is cardiac ambulatory monitoring?

multiethnic specialist doctors discussing case picture id1189302612 copyCardiac ambulatory monitoring is testing that records heart activity over time. Various types of ambulatory monitoring devices may be used, such as:

  • Holter monitor– This small device is worn near or against the body. Wires from the device attach to the skin via electrodes, small, sticky pads applied to the skin. A Holter monitor may be worn for 24 to 48 hours or more, during which time the patient keeps a diary of their various activities. Some Holter monitors have an event button for patients to press if they experience cardiac symptoms.
  • Event recorder– The event recorder may be worn to assess symptoms. This device may be worn on the wrist or chest. The patient presses the button on the device anytime a cardiac symptom occurs.
  • Looping monitor– This device records heart activity for several minutes and then starts over, looping through the process again and again. If an event occurs, the patient presses a button either during or right after symptoms are noticed. This saves the data so a cardiologist can review activity.
  • Mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry devices continually monitor heartbeat and deliver an alert in the event of a serious problem.

What is respiratory therapy?

Respiratory therapy is a type of care that evaluates and treats various breathing, lung, and heart conditions. Diagnostic tests include the PFTs mentioned as well as blood tests that measure the concentration of oxygen and other blood gases. Respiratory therapy treatments include chest treatments, inhalation therapy using oxygen and blended oxygen mixtures, and the use of ventilators, when necessary.

How does Summit Healthcare evaluate you using nerve conduction studies?

A nerve conduction study is performed to measure the speed at which electrical impulses travel through a nerve. The purpose of this type of test is to identify nerve damage. Testing may involve placing electrodes on the skin over the symptomatic nerve. One electrode delivers a mild electrical impulse to stimulate the nerve and the other electrode records it.

The speed at which the impulse travels from one electrode, through the nerve, to the other electrode indicates the level of function in the nerve.Electromyography is another type of nerve conduction test. This process evaluates electrical activity in the muscles to identify potential nerve or muscle damage.

Schedule Your Consultation Today!

To learn more about Summit Healthcare Cardiopulmonary Department call 928.537.6303 to schedule your consultation today. Summit Healthcare serves Show Low, Snowflake, Pinetop-Lakeside and surrounding areas in Arizona

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