Nationally Recognized Quality Cardiopulmonary Services at UH Samaritan Medical Center

UH Samaritan Medical Center’s cardiopulmonary services program is nationally recognized for its quality cardiopulmonary services. The program is certified by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for echocardiography.

What is Cardiopulmonary Services?

Cardiopulmonary services refers to your heart and lungs, and how the health of these vital organs relates to your overall wellness, including physical stamina.

If you are experiencing shortness of breath, with little to no physical exertion, your physician may order a stress test, which is performed in our department.

Our highly skilled staff takes the time to discuss many topics with you regarding your health. Referrals can be made through your family physician by calling Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services at 419-289-0491.

Other procedures we offer include:

• Carotid Doppler to check carotid artery in the neck.
• Arterial Doppler to check arms, legs, fingers, toes.
• Renal Doppler to check the renal artery in the kidneys.
• Transesophageal ECHO (TEE), which visualizes the heart in motion using a scope with a cardiac probe, which is passed through the esophagus. This procedure is performed by a cardiologist.
• Cardiac ultrasound ECHO, which allows a view of the wall motion, valves and blood flow through the heart.
• ECHO stress test
• Cardiolite stress test with nuclear medicine
• Holter monitor for 24-hour monitoring, which records the heart’s electrical activity while performing daily routine activities.
• 30-day event monitor, which records the heart’s electrical activity for 30 days to capture any abnormal beats.
• Pulmonary function test (PFT), which measures airway resistance, in addition to other breathing maneuvers.
• Exercise pulmonary function test (PFT), which combines activity with the breathing test.
• Respiratory FIT testing
• EEG, which is a brain wave test.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation, an eight-week session of intense therapy under the direct supervision of a pulmonologist. The individualized treatment program stabilizes or reverses the lung’s functional changes from disease or injury.
• Venous Doppler (DVT) for deep vein thrombosis.

Specially Trained Respiratory Therapists for Lung-Related Conditions

UH Samaritan’s respiratory therapists are specially trained to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS and other lung or lung-related conditions.

Respiratory therapists at UH Samaritan are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

Registered, or certified, respiratory therapists staff our department 24 hours a day, seven days a week, earning a place for UH Samaritan Medical Center in the “Quality Respiratory Care Recognition Program” of the American Association for Respiratory Care.

The Role of a Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists perform all cardiopulmonary care in the Cardiopulmonary Services department, and often provide physicians with test results the same day as the scheduled procedure.

Respiratory therapists work closely with clinical staff to assure blood oxygen levels are properly maintained.

Surgery patients, especially our joint replacement patients, will see the respiratory therapist often during their hospital stay to avoid pneumonia. These patients will be encouraged to practice lung exercises to keep their lungs strong and healthy while they are recovering, whether it be at home, at the hospital, at an assisted living facility, or at a nursing home.

Respiratory therapists help arrange home oxygen needs for discharge.

Inpatients and Emergency Department patients also may see a respiratory therapist, depending on their medical condition and treatment needs.

Recognized Quality in Respiratory Care

UH Samaritan Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.

Nearly 700 hospitals – or about 15 percent of U.S. hospitals – have applied for and received this award. UH Samaritan has earned the recognition for seven consecutive years.

The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earing the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strick set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.

To qualify for the recognition, UH Samaritan provided documentation showing it meets these conditions:

• All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours.
• Other personnel qualified ot perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.
• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.
• Hospital policy prohibits the routine delivery medicated aerosol treatment using small volume nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, or intermittent positive pressure treatments to multiple patients simultaneously. Circumstances under which this practice is permitted is defined by policy.
• Use a process that periodically compares performance of your respiratory department on efficiency and quality metrics with similar departments for the purpose of identifying an achieving best practice.

Support Services for Living with COPD

COPD Clinic

Patients with COPD may receive a physician referral to UH Samaritan COPD Clinic for routine counseling sessions with a pharmacist and respiratory therapist.

These healthcare specialists teach patients how to prevent their condition from worsening. Patients also learn exercises and breathing techniques for a hands-on approach to managing their COPD. Call 419-207-2559 for more information.

Support Groups

SHOW stands for the Samaritan Hospital Orange Walkers and is a walking group that encourages COPD patients to exercise. Walking alongside a registered respiratory therapist, COPD patients will be given a pedometer to track their persona goals, while heart rate and oxygen levels are monitored. Walkers should bring their own water, rescue inhaler and portable oxygen if prescribed with activity. SHOW meets at the Ashland Salvation Army Kroc Center, 527 E. Liberty St., at 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.