From Measuring Lung Function to Administering Oxygen, the Respiratory Department is an Integral Part of Patient Care

Health Resources:

Podcast: Electrocardiogram Detailed information on electrocardiogram, including the reasons and preparation for the procedure, how the procedure is performed, and after care.

The respiratory department is dedicated to providing quality services to patients both young and old. Cherokee Medical Center's team of respiratory therapists are trained and qualified to provide treatment, evaluation, monitoring and management of patients with breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems. And they work closely with physicians to provide a comprehensive approach to treatment. Care provided by our respiratory therapists includes:

• Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Administering oxygen
• Managing mechanical ventilators
• Measuring lung function
• Administering drugs to the lungs
• Providing emergency care to heart attack, stroke and shock victims
• Conducting outpatient diagnostic testing, care and treatment, with the help of a certified special procedures therapist

Cherokee Medical Center's respiratory department also provides diagnostic testing such as:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) records, on graph paper, the electrical impulses traveling through the heart. The purpose is to evaluate the heart’s function, to determine the presence of abnormal electrical impulses and to detect heart damage.
   
• Stress Test is a noninvasive procedure performed on a treadmill to help diagnose heart disease. More extensive studies are combined with radioisotopes.

For more information, call 256-927-5531.