Most
diagnoses are made after completion of a physical examination and review
of a person's medical history. But, often, additional testing is
required before an appropriate treatment plan can be recommended.
Your physician will order and arrange for your
testing and, once results are received, will inform you of the outcome
and what steps will be next in your care.
In those most critical times, when
you or a family member seek treatment in an emergency room and need
respiratory care, there are no better physicians to be attended by than the
board certified physicians of Christiana Care Pulmonary Associates. Because of
their advanced training in Critical Care Medicine, a select group of our
physicians (also known as Intensivists) are privileged to serve as Medical
Directors in various departments of local hospitals.
Sleep Apnea is characterized by pauses of breathing during sleep. A person with Sleep Apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Symptoms are sometimes present for years, without diagnosis; during which time the patient continually suffers from daytime sleepiness and fatigue, as well snoring, headaches and many other symptoms.
Pulmonary Function Testing measures a patient’s lung function, and can often
detect problems such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema (to name a few).
Your doctor may order one or all of the three tests that comprise a complete
PFT; Spirometry, Lung Volumes, and Diffusion Capacity.
Our qualified technician follows the standards set forth by the American
Thoracic Society to perform the test; and the resulting data is then
interpreted by a certified pulmonologist.
Interventional Pulmonary Medicine focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of
malignant and nonmalignant airway and pleural disorders.
For those patients who are overwhelmed trying to cope with
health and/or wellness issues, Christiana Care Pulmonary Associates offers some
additional support. Our wellness coach provides services to assist
a patient in all areas of wellness including health, weight, fitness,
eating habits, stress management, and other lifestyle concerns.