Respiratory care in Cushing, OK
At Hillcrest Hospital Cushing, we provide both inpatient and outpatient respiratory care services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our respiratory treatments range from diagnostic services like pulmonary function testing to breathing therapy treatments for asthma and COPD. Every respiratory therapy is licensed by both the State of Oklahoma and by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). This means you can depend on us to deliver exceptional pulmonary care to help you breathe easier and live a healthier life.
Comprehensive respiratory care services
Our respiratory therapy department offers inpatient and outpatient pulmonary function tests (PFT). Sometimes referred to as spirometry, PFTs help your doctor diagnose certain types of lung disease to determine why you may feel short of breath. These tests measure how well you can inhale and exhale compared to other people who are your same age, weight, height, and gender.
During the test, your doctor will coach you through a process that consists of breathing into a mouthpiece that is connected to a measuring device and a computer. Data will be collected about your breathing pattern, and then the computer will graph the information, comparing it to what is considered a normal range. The information will then be taken to a physician or pulmonologist for professional interpretation.
Pulmonary function tests are especially useful in diagnosing and monitoring the following conditions:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
We also provide sleep apnea treatment at our Sleep Medicine clinic and outpatient arterial blood gas analysis (ABG). ABG measures the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood to see how well your lungs are working. It also measures the acid-base balance in your blood, which determines how well your kidneys and lungs work together to keep your acid-base levels in balance.
At Hillcrest Cushing, our tests are performed by properly trained and Oklahoma State-licensed respiratory care practitioners to ensure the accuracy of the results. If you often feel short of breath, please speak with your doctor to determine if pulmonary function tests are appropriate for you.
Lung cancer screening program
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual lung cancer screenings for people who:
- Are between 50 and 80 years old
- Are a current or former smoker
- Have quit smoking within the past 15 years
- Have a minimum of a 20 pack-year history (e.g., smoked 1 pack per day for 20 years or 2 packs per day for 10 years)
- Have no symptoms of lung cancer
Our lung cancer screenings use low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) scans to obtain a clear view of your lungs. During your lung screening, you will lie on a table while the CT machine uses low dose radiation to make detailed images of your lungs. The scan is completely painless and only takes a few minutes.
Pulmonary health check-ups are an important part of early lung cancer detection. We offer lung disease screenings at the following locations:
- Bailey Medical Center
- Hillcrest Claremore
- Hillcrest Cushing
- Hillcrest Pryor
- Hillcrest South
- Hillcrest Medical Center
Our screening program employs a multidisciplinary team of physicians that review and scrutinize every lung screening result that contains abnormalities. After your screening, we will provide a thorough and comprehensive analysis which may include a treatment plan. To determine your eligibility for a lung screening, click here.
Understanding lung cancer and symptoms
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United states, and more people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. However, lung cancer screenings are the best way to detect lung cancer at an early stage. When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer increases to 92%.
One way to stay ahead of your lung health is to be aware of lung cancer symptoms. Lung cancer symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Coughing that doesn’t go away or gets worse
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling tired all the time
- Weight loss with no known cause
If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, speak to your primary care physician right away.
