Memorial Hospital’s respiratory therapists provide respiratory treatments and diagnostic testing for patients with breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems. Working with your pulmonologist, our respiratory therapy team performs critical procedures that directly impact the ability for your major body organs to function properly. 

Memorial Hospital’s respiratory therapists have a combined 20 years of experience and are Basic Life Support instructors. They are also experienced in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Neonatal Resuscitation.

Common recipients of respiratory therapy are pulmonary patients who suffer from lung cancer, emphysema, or asthma. Newborns may also require the services of respiratory care practitioners.

Available Diagnostic Tests

Memorial Hospital’s Respiratory Therapists perform a full range of diagnostic tests to help physicians diagnose patients with respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Some of the tests include the following

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) – An EKG is a simple, noninvasive test that records the electrical activity of your heart. It requires no prep, and involves placing electrodes on your chest to record the tracing.
• Holter Monitoring – This portable heart monitor, which is worn for 24 to 48 hours, records your heart’s electrical activity continuously to detect any rhythm abnormalities.
• Event Monitoring – This portable heart monitor is worn for 30 days to record the heart’s electrical activity. This monitor is used for symptoms that are exhibited intermittently and were not captured during a holter monitor test.
• Treadmill Stress Test -This test is performed to see how your heart reacts to stress or exercise. It requires us to place electrode patches on your chest and for you to walk on a treadmill. We attempt to get you to meet your goal heart rate to see how your heart will react at peak stress or exercise. A nurse, respiratory therapist, and your physician will be present for the duration of the test.
• Nuclear Stress Test – A Nuclear Stress Test is performed similar to a treadmill stress test but it includes images of your heart that can show areas of low blood flow and areas of damaged heart muscle. It involves taking two sets of images of your heart – one set while your heart is at rest and one set after your heart has been exercised, either by walking on a treadmill or by using a medication that chemically stresses your heart.
  Your physician will determine which test would be best for you, based on your symptoms and your ability to walk on a treadmill. If you do not feel like you can walk on a treadmill, please let your physician know. You will be asked to refrain from taking certain medications or eating the morning of the test.
• Pulmonary Function Testing – Here at Memorial Hospital we are excited to offer complete Pulmonary Function Testing (also called lung function tests or PFTs) with our state-of-the-art equipment. Pulmonary Function tests are a set of lung function assessments used to diagnose lung disease, such as asthma or pulmonary fibrosis. The tests determine how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and put oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. The tests can measure the severity of lung problems and check to see how well medications like bronchodilators work to help your lungs.

To contact the Memorial Hospital Respiratory Therapy Department, call 402-694-8212.