Pulmonary Services

Respiratory care is the healthcare specialty responsible for the treatment and care of the lungs. This service is offered at VVMC by respiratory care practitioners who work closely with physicians and other healthcare providers to handle acute or sudden problems as well as chronic or long-term disorders. Special training of these healthcare professionals includes advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) certification, pulmonary function and perinatal/pediatrics registration and certification.

VVMC offers a complete spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed by specially trained respiratory care practitioners who understand how to apply high tech devices in the care and treatment of patients, how to assess patients to ensure the treatments are working properly, and how to make the care changes necessary to arrive at the best outcome for the patient.

The combination of these skills – hands-on technical know-how and a solid understanding of respiratory conditions and how they are treated – is what sets respiratory care practitioners apart and makes them a crucial part of the healthcare team.

The respiratory healthcare team at VVMC is dedicated to improving the health of patients with respiratory disorders, addressing their specific medical needs, providing education about the disease process, and promoting optimum health.

Our goal is to ensure that each patient receives the best care possible for a wide variety of disorders, including:

• Abnormal chest X-ray
  
• Allergic reactions
  
• Asthma
  
• Bronchitis
  
• Chest pain
  
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  
• Cough
  
• Emphysema
  
• Excessive mucus production
  
• Lung cancer
  
• Nasal allergies
  
• Pulmonary fibrosis
  
• Respiratory problems associated with ALS and other neuromuscular diseases
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Sinus infections
  
• Sleep disorders
  
• Wheezing

The Pulmonary Services department at VVMC also provides pulmonary function and arterial blood gas testing. Smoking cessation education is offered to all inpatients with a history of smoking.