The Department of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Services celebrated Respiratory Care Week with a series of events during the week of October 21-25.

Cambridge resident Pat McCubbin, left, took advantage of the free spirometry screenings offered at UM SMC at Dorchester during respiratory care week. Janet Riley (right), Cardiopulmonary Tech, provided the test. Riley has worked in respiratory care at the medical center for 27 years.
Spirometry screenings were offered free of charge at UM Shore Regional Health medical centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton. Spirometry, which measures the amount and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled, is an important tool used in the diagnosis and assessment of many pulmonary conditions. More than 30 people from Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties took advantage of the opportunity to check their lung function by signing up for this most common pulmonary function test.
According to Gary Jones, FACCA, Director of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Services, in the course of a year, approximately 100,000 cardiovascular and pulmonary testing and treatment procedures are conducted in UM Shore Regional Health medical centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton. The majority of patients are treated for COPD, but other conditions seen are asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, lung transplant, congestive heart failure and pneumonia.
On Wednesday, October 23, Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Services hosted a luncheon at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton for staff and students from Delaware Technical Community College’s Associate in Arts degree program in Respiratory Care.
After a welcome and introductions by Ed Liske, RT, Lead Respiratory Therapist at UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester, the luncheon featured remarks by Greg Oliver, MD, Medical Director for Pulmonary Services at Shore Regional Health.

Respiratory therapy students from Del Tech Community College enjoyed a lunch and tour hosted by UM Shore Regional Health’s Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Services during Respiratory Care week.
Dr. Oliver noted that 10 of the 43 respiratory therapists now employed by UM Shore Regional Health are graduates of the Del Tech program. He also pointed out that respiratory therapists often move on to specialize in other areas; in fact, several of the UM Shore Regional Health therapists work in such areas as the Sleep Center, the Vascular Lab, the Pulmonary Function Lab, and Cardiac Rehab. After lunch, the Del Tech group enjoyed a tour of UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, where three of the students are currently enrolled in the clinical rotation requirement for their A.A. degree.
On Thursday, October 24, Dr. Anna Ahn, of Mid Shore Pulmonary Associates, presented a free talk, “Living Well With Obstructive Lung Disease,” at the Talbot County Senior Center in Easton. Dr. Ahn is one of five pulmonologists associated with UM Shore Regional Health, along with Dr. Oliver, William D. Trainor, MD, Peyman Otmishi, MD, and Funlola Famuyiwa, MD.

Celebrating Respiratory Care Week: Greg Oliver, MD, Medical Director of Pulmonary Services; Gary Jones, FACCA, Director of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Services; Steve Eisemann, Manager of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Services; Jessica Rickards, RRT, Clinical Instructor for Del-Tech Community College; Ed Liske, Lead Respiratory Therapist, UM SMC at Dorchester; Terri Fisher, RT, Respiratory Therapist at UM SMC at Easton; James Little, M.Ed., Respiratory Care Program Chair at Del-Tech; Amy Thomas, M.Ed., RRT, Director of Clinical Education for Respiratory Care at Del-Tech; and Charles McElroy, M.Ed., RRT, Clinical Instructor for Del-Tech.
After outlining various types of pulmonary problems, their symptoms and treatments, she addressed individual questions posed by the attendees. Dr. Ahn’s presentation was one of several events in UM Shore Regional Health’s free health information series, called “Ask the Expert.” The series will resume in early spring, 2014.
Information about cardiovascular and pulmonary testing and treatment available through UM Shore Regional Health may be obtained by calling 410-822-1000, ext. 5810.