Cardiopulmonary Support Services

The Cardiopulmonary Support Services is comprised of a staff of 15 Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs), 7 EKG technicians, and 2 echocardiography (ECHO) technicians that provide diagnostic studies and therapeutic interventions to inpatients and outpatients Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5 p.m., with some of the services being provided 24 hours a day.

Therapeutic interventions include administration of medical gases (usually oxygen), aerosolized pharmacological agents and bland aerosols, chest percussion and postural drainage, incentive spirometry, airway care, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, and invasive mechanical ventilation.

Diagnostic services are provided for cardiac and pulmonary function studies for all ages, encompassing neonates to geriatric patients. They include echocardiography (cardiac sonography), cardiac stress tests, electrocardiography (EKG), electroencephalography (EEG), evoked potentials, obstructive sleep apnea, blood gas drawing and analysis, spirometry, lung volumes, CO diffusion capacities, and bronchoscopy assisting.

Some cardiopulmonary procedures require special preparation.