Pulmonary Respiratory Services

Pulmonary care provides treatment for lung and respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, COPD, certain allergies and chest wall conditions. Eisenhower Health provides advanced medical services and treatment options for patients with pulmonary diseases and conditions, including chronic lung diseases, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. With more than 17 million people affected by these diseases, we understand that many people are constantly living with shortness of breath and other breathing complications. From slowing down the effects and progression of a disease to helping you manage your asthma, our respiratory specialists at Eisenhower Health are here to walk through every aspect of your health.

We proudly offer a specialized pulmonary program, which is designed to help increase knowledge, as well as improve the physical health and ability, of those with pulmonary diseases. Our program helps you become a better "self-manager," equipping you with the tools, resources, and information needed to manage your breathing on a daily basis. This leads to an improvement in your quality of life. It also helps reduce your general shortness of breath when you are better equipped to manage your disease.

Pulmonary Lab

Eisenhower Health Pulmonary Laboratory assesses the lungs physiology through testing. These tests may include lung function, exercise testing, respiratory muscle strength, gas exchange and exhaled breath markers.

Services:

Whether inpatient or outpatient, all patients will need a provider order for services provided by the Pulmonary Lab. Some of the bronchoscopy procedures may have to be done in an emergent situation to save the life of a patient.

Complete Pulmonary Function Test
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are noninvasive tests that show how well the lungs are working. The tests measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and gas exchange. This information can help your healthcare provider diagnose and decide on a treatment plan if required.

PFTs may be used to check lung function before surgery or other procedures in patients who have lung or heart problems, who are smokers, or who have other health conditions. Another use of PFTs is to assess treatment for asthma, emphysema, and other chronic lung problems. Your healthcare provider may also have other reasons to advise PFTs.

• Body plethysmography
• Gas diffusion study
• Bronchoprovacation
• Outpatient Blood Gas Draws and Analysis
• Outpatient Sputum induction
• Six Minute Walk test
• Home Oxygen Evaluation
• Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Test (CPET)
• Exercised Induced Bronchospasm (EIB)
• High Altitude Simulation Test (HAST)
• FeNO test or exhated nitric oxide test

Bronchoscopy Lab

Interventional Bronchoscopy Lab
Advanced techniques utilized by our Interventional Pulmonology program include advanced endoscopic surgery, which is performed by passing small instruments and cameras into the thoracic cavity through small incisions, and robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with three-dimensional guidance, in which a camera is passed down the throat and into the respiratory system so the lungs and airways can be directly viewed by physicians.

• Zephyr Valves
• Navigational Bronchoscopy – Via Robotic Bronchoscope
• Pleuroscopy
• Pleurx Catheter System
• Thoracentesis

Respiratory Therapy

What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
A respiratory therapist (RT) is a health professional trained to evaluate and deliver care to people that suffer from acute breathing problems or chronic respiratory disease.

RTs are responsible for conducting, performing and analyzing diagnostic tests to assess lung capacity and capability as well as collaborating with physicians, surgeons and nurses to create treatment plans. A RT will select, assemble and operate specialty equipment to treat patients. They also treat patients with oxygen therapy, aerosol medication, chest physiotherapy, non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation as well as many other treatments.

RTs also deliver specialty care for diseases such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases, asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis. A respiratory therapist will also provide patients with education regarding how to properly manage their lung disease or condition to improve their quality of life. RTs work in a variety of areas of the hospital as well as outpatient facilities.

Support Services

Respiratory Clinical Educators: provide support to our local community

Community Education: lung screenings (spirometry) respiratory medication education, and COPD education.

Community Service/Education provided to:

• Cathedral City Senior Center
• City of Palm Springs Health and Wellness Fair
• Desert Hot Springs Senior Center
• Desert Sands Unified School District
• Indio Senior Center
• The Joslyn Senior Center
• Mizell Senior Center
• City of La Quinta

Allergy Clinic Support

Pulmonary also supports the Allergy Clinic with spirometry testing, medication administration and COPD & Asthma education.