Early diagnosis of any respiratory issue can help prevent them from becoming
severe! Here at Myrtue Medical Center (MMC), we provide respiratory care
close to home and in a comfortable environment.
Respiratory Therapy is a health specialty focused on the treatment, management,
and care of the lungs and respiratory system. There are many different
types of respiratory therapy, some of which include:
Long-term care
Neonatal-pediatrics
Pulmonary rehabilitation / testing
Cardiac rehabilitation / testing
Polysomnography
Critical care
The respiratory system includes your airways, lungs, and blood vessels,
as well as the muscles that power your lungs. All these different parts
work together to move oxygen throughout the body and clean out waste gases
like carbon dioxide. Some additional functions of the respiratory system include:
Allows you to talk and smell
Warms air to match your body temperature and moisturizes it to the humidity
level your body needs
Delivers oxygen to the cells in your body
Removes waste gases, including carbon dioxide, from the body when you exhale
Protects your airways from harmful substances and irritants
Respiratory Care Team
Our Respiratory Care team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
to provide patients at Myrtue Medical Center with all aspects of respiratory
care. We are lucky to have four Respiratory Therapists:
John Petsche, BA, RRT, Director of Respiratory Therapy
Myrtue’s respiratory team provides additional services to patients
in the following areas:
Cardiac testing
Stress tests, cardiac monitoring (holter + events), etc.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary testing
Sleep Testing
Sleep Lab
Our sleep lab is a diagnostic center that is used to identify
sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome and obstructive and central sleep apnea
disorders that prevent you from achieving restful and restorative sleep.
It is important to take sleep disorders seriously because they can have
a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. If you're
experiencing symptoms of daytime sleepiness or other sleep-related issues,
talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking the ESS or other screening
tests. By identifying and treating sleep disorders early on, you can improve
your quality of life and reduce your risk of developing other health problems.
An
Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a widely used tool for measuring daytime sleepiness. It consists
of eight questions that ask individuals to rate their likelihood of falling
asleep in various situations, such as sitting and reading or watching
TV. The total scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating
greater levels of daytime sleepiness.
View a sample of the ESS here.
Dr. Brian Anderson is our sleep lab’s medical director and Susan Erlbacher is our respiratory
therapist certified in sleep testing. John Petsche is the Director of
Respiratory Therapy and oversees the lab’s function and operation.
Sleep Lab Accreditation with ACHC
In October 2023, MMC's Sleep Lab achieved re-accreditation through the
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for the services of the Respiratory Therapy Sleep Lab. Accreditation
by ACHC reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to
meeting standards that facilitate higher levels of performance and patient care.
“The 2023 ACHC accreditation achievement is a reflection and testament
to our sleep lab’s high-quality care and service,” stated
John Petsche, BA, RRT, Director of Respiratory Therapy. “Myrtue
Medical Center’s sleep lab has a 95% customer satisfaction rating
and a 98% scoring accuracy by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in
providing the highest standard of care to our patients.”
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