Taking a Deeper Breath

Respiratory Care/Pulmonary services: 24 hours day/7 days per week.

• Services range from providing inhalation of medications for treatment of lung disease, to the management of mechanical ventilation equipment for life support, pulmonary function testing and bronchoscopy procedures.
• The Pulmonary Function Lab offers complete pulmonary function testing via body plethymography, evaluation of functional exercise capacity in patients with severe heart and lung disease, and testing for patients with asthma and chronic lung disease.
• Bronchoscopies are performed by Board Certified Pulmonologists in the Endoscopy Lab. Video bronchscopy equipment allows the physician to visually inspect the air passages of the lungs and take specimens. Bronchoscopies are performed on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Outpatients must arrive at least 1 hour prior to their test to register in the Admitting Department .The Pulmonary Function Lab is located on the first floor of the hospital in the Cardiopulmonary Department. Outpatient testing is available Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Appointments are made by the physician’s office or by the patient by calling(562) 491-9915.

A complete test will take about 1 hour. Patients are asked to not take any prescription breathing medications (inhalers) and to avoid caffeine at least 6 hours before the test.

Outpatients are referred for bronchoscopies by a pulmonologist and are performed in the Endoscopy Department, located on the first floor off the main lobby. A nurse will call the day before the procedure to give any special instructions.