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Pulmonary Health Services

Respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions of Americans, can be acquired in multiple ways and are not always self-inflicted.

COPD is the third highest cause of death in the U.S. NCH was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of only 20 “high performing” systems for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Florida.

The NCH pulmonary health services team is making a difference in the lives of those suffering from COPD and a variety of respiratory illnesses and medical conditions including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer and pulmonary vascular disease.

The team uses a patient-centered multidisciplinary approach to provide the best and safest care.

Our pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons and critical care specialists collaborate with physicians in other specialties, such as allergy, cardiology, ear, nose and throat medicine, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, pediatrics and radiology.

NCH provides clinical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment to patients with a variety of health problems related to lungs and breathing. As chronic lung diseases have become more prevalent, the demand for specialized pulmonary services has grown steadily over the years. 

To address the current and future needs in the community, the NCH pulmonary health services program must purchase new technologies, train nurses and other medical staff.

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An integrated Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) and Spirometry system is needed to create a server-based solution to acquire patient data, store reports and provide online reports to physicians. It allows for important ties between the NCH hospitals and the local physician practices to provide timely, patient-centered care. PFTs, or lung function tests, help diagnose lung disease, measure the severity of lung problems and check to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working. The spirometry test is the first and most commonly done lung function test.

NCH provides clinical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment to patients with a variety of health problems related to lungs and breathing. As chronic lung diseases have become more prevalent, the demand for specialized pulmonary services has grown steadily over the years. To address the current and future needs in the community, the NCH pulmonary health services program must purchase new technologies, train nurses and other medical staff.

An integrated Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) and Spirometry system is needed to create a server-based solution to acquire patient data, store reports and provide online reports to physicians. It allows for important ties between the NCH hospitals and the local physician practices to provide timely, patient-centered care. PFTs, or lung function tests, help diagnose lung disease, measure the severity of lung problems and check to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working. The spirometry test is the first and most commonly done lung function test.

New pulmonary stress testing systems are also needed to offer diagnostic tools in the soon-to-be renovated NCH Pulmonary Health Clinic and in inpatient units of the NCH Baker Hospital Downtown and NCH North Naples Hospital. Simple, computerized equipment for pulmonary stress testing (gas exchange analysis) has only become available since the introduction of the personal computer. These oxygen consumption tests can determine if a patient has a suspected illness or deficiency, measure the program of a rehab program, measure the progress of a weight loss program, provide a fitness evaluation and offer a nutritional assessment.

A new flexible bronchoscopy airway management system will provide physicians with the ability to utilize a controlled application of extreme cold in order to devitalize tissue and for removal of foreign bodies, mucous plugs, necrotic tissue and tissue biopsy.

Current Needs: Pulmonary Health Services Technology Upgrades
  • Integrated Pulmonary Function Testing and Spirometry system
  • Pulmonary stress testing system
  • Flexible bronchoscopy airway management system

Community support is vital to these projects.  With your philanthropic gifts, NCH will be able to grow its services.

For additional information about the plans to grow the pulmonary health program and our need for financial support, contact our team at 239-624-2000.