Pulmonology
Better breathing with advanced respiratory care
If you have pulmonary problems or suffer from a chronic lung disease, Saint Vincent Hospital can help you breathe easier. Designed to improve your quality of life, services include:
- Expert respiratory care available for adult, pediatric and neonatal patients
- Comprehensive diagnostic testing and treatment for conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and asthma
- Adult outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program stressing education and monitored exercise sessions
At Saint Vincent, you have access to highly skilled inpatient and outpatient respiratory care. The hospital’s specialized respiratory team is committed to providing you with a comprehensive treatment program for a range of lung conditions and diseases. This commitment begins with your initial visit and continues through your follow-up care.
Pulmonary Laboratory
The Pulmonary Laboratory works hand in hand with Saint Vincent physicians and the community to help diagnose lung disorders. The lab works with you and your loved ones on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Respiratory therapists and pulmonary function technologists perform the tests.
The laboratory offers a variety of state-of-the-art tests, including:
- Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), the primary method used to diagnose, stage and monitor various pulmonary diseases
- Methacholine Challenge Testing, a bronchial test used to assist in the evaluation of asthma
- High Altitude Simulation Testing, for people with COPD who either live at higher altitudes or who plan to fly on commercial airlines
- Exercise Oximetry, to determine the need for supplemental oxygen with exercise
- Arterial Blood Gas Sampling, which monitors the severity and progression of a pulmonary disease process
- Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy, which aids in the diagnosis of a wide range of lung conditions
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
The goal of Saint Vincent’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is to return you to daily activities, with less shortness of breath. When you are accepted into the program, you will benefit from:
- A 7- to 10-week outpatient program
- Education in the anatomy and physiology of the lungs, respiratory medication, stress management and nutrition
- Monitored exercise sessions that focus on breath retraining and posture
Admission requirements for the program are:
- A physician referral (HMO insurance first requires referral to a pulmonologist)
- A diagnosis of COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis
- A pulmonary function test within the last 90 days that reveals FVC or FEV1 with less than 60% predicted value
- A desire to participate
Pending qualification, Medicare and most insurance companies cover the cost of the required tests and rehabilitation sessions.
Your first visit will be for evaluation, paperwork and a parking permit. For this visit, free valet parking is offered at the front entrance of the hospital and you will be given a wheelchair. (The gym is located about a half-mile from the entrance.)
How to Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant issue, sending as many as 20,000 people a year to the emergency room. More than 400 Americans die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, often from improper home heating.
While everyone is at risk, some are more sensitive than others, such as infants and the elderly. People with heart disease, breathing problems or anemia are also more susceptible to carbon monoxide sickness. Here are some ways you can stay safe and warm this winter.
Use Proper Ventilation
Gas ranges, ovens and kerosene heaters that are not been properly ventilated can leak carbon monoxide into your home. For example, appliances such as water heaters, should vent in an upward direction to the outside of the house. And if you smell an odor from a gas appliance, it may be leaking carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide poisoning happens because the gas is invisible and ordorless. As you breath the fumes, the gas begins to build up in your body and can cause sudden illness or death. The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chest Pain
- Confusion
Make Safe Heating Decisions
Only buy gas equipment that has the seal of a national testing agency, such as Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL). The following are tips to keep in mind for heating and cooking:
- Don’t use a gas range or oven to heat your house.
- Charcoal or hibachi grills, lanterns and portable camping stoves are not appropriate for inside use.
- Never use a generator inside your home, basement, garage or carport.
- If you use a kerosene heater, refill it outside and make sure your home is properly ventilated.
- Make sure your fireplace flue and chimney are properly connected, in good working order and are not blocked. Blockage can cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home.
- Perform a seasonal check on all gas, oil or coal burning appliances to make sure that they are in good working order.
Quick Tip: Installing a carbon monoxide detector can warn you if dangerous levels of the gas are in your home. Change the batteries twice a year when you typically change smoke detector batteries.
Remember Car and Truck Safety
Never idle your car or truck in the garage with the door closed, and if the garage is attached to the house, don’t idle even with the garage door open. It’s a good idea to have the exhaust system checked each year to make sure that carbon monoxide doesn’t leak into your car.
What to Do if You Suspect Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide can be fatal without prompt treatment. If you suspect someone has carbon monoxide poisoning, call 9-1-1. You also should open the doors and windows to provide fresh air to the area. Turn off any heaters, gas ranges or other combustion appliances and leave the home.