Core staff members in Cardiopulmonary Services recently completed in-depth training in pulmonary function testing (PFT) that covered every procedure performed, reports Steve Eisemann, regional manager, Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Services.
Receiving the training were Terri Fisher, RRT, CPFT; Tracy Hindle, RRT, AE-C and Patty Joiner, RRT, CPFT. They each earned 20 hours of continuing education credits (CEU) upon successful completion of the four day training. The training was made possible thanks to grant application, written and submitted by Fisher to UM Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Ritter Fund. Funding was awarded in the amount of $4,734.
Pulmonary function testing determines the presence of lung disease. It determines the extent of the disease or impairment and also monitors progression. Test results also play a significant role in determining the course of therapy to treat the disease. Testing requires considerable cooperation from the patient — and skill on the part of the therapist.
“For the data to be accurate and helpful to the physicians who are making diagnoses and developing treatment plans, our therapists must be extremely well-trained and proficient in a variety of testing equipment,” says Eisemann. “That’s why this training is so important. We are really grateful to the Ritter Fund of UM Memorial Hospital Foundation for making it possible.”
Pulmonary function testing is conducted at all three UM Shore Regional Health hospitals. The laboratory at Easton also provides cardio-pulmonary stress testing that helps physicians diagnose the causes of a patients’ shortness of breath and identify their exercise tolerance level in a rehabilitation program and Methacholine challenges to determine the presence and extent of reactive airway disease that has not been revealed through more commonly performed pulmonary function testing.
Skip to content