Respiratory Therapy

Location: 532 1st Street NW, Britt, IA 50423

For more information, call: 641-843-5511

Get Directions to HCHS Respiratory Therapy

Hancock County Health System's Respiratory Therapy Department provides diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients in Hancock County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) or for patients seeking treatment and care as an outpatient. Respiratory Therapy is provided to a full range of patients including newborns to pediatrics and young adults through geriatric patients.

Services are available Monday - Friday at the HCMH, unless otherwise noted.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) measures blood pressure at regular intervals. It is believed to be able to reduce the white coat hypertension effect in which a patient's blood pressure is elevated during the examination process due to nervousness and anxiety caused by being in a clinical setting.

Ankle-Brachial Index Test

This test is done by measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while a person is at rest. Some people also do an exercise test. In this case, the blood pressure measurements are repeated at both sites after a few minutes of walking on a treadmill.The ankle-brachial index (ABI) result is used to predict the severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD can be linked to a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

Apnea Link

Is an at home monitoring device to help detect if you have OSA (obstructive sleep apnea.) This device records a patients respiratory effort, pulse, oxygen saturation, nasal flow and snoring events.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Any patient with heart issues such as an acute MI within 12 months, CABG, Stable angina, CHF with EF of 35% or less, heart valve repair or replacement, PTCA or stent, heart or heart-lung transplant, LVAD device

Cardiolite Stress Test

The Cardiolite stress test is a diagnostic exam used to evaluate the supply of blood to your heart muscle. Your heart receives blood from the coronary arteries. If these arteries become partially blocked or narrowed, your heart will not receive the blood that it needs for proper function. This test may be useful in detecting the presence and significance of coronary artery disease.

Event Monitoring

30-day monitory system. A cardiac event recorder that is a battery-powered portable device that the patient can control to tape record the heart's electrical activity (ECG)

Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor is a continuous recording of a patient's heart rhythm for 24 or 48 hours. Since it can be worn during the patient's regular daily activities, it helps the physician correlate symptoms of dizziness, palpitations (a sensation of fast or irregular heart rhythm) or black outs.

In-Check Dial

Measures appropriate inspiratory flow to show adequate deposition of MDI/DPI

Overnight Oximetry

Overnight (nocturnal) home oximetry is a test to monitor and record the level of oxygen in your blood as you sleep through the night at home. With this test, an oxygen sensor is clipped to your finger and connected to a machine called an oximeter. The oximeter measures and records your heart rate and the level of oxygen carried in your blood

Pulmonary Exercises Stress Test

The pulmonary exercise stress test determines how effective your lungs, heart and muscles function during exercise. This is usually done on a treadmill. If you have shortness of breath, it may help determine the reason for your symptom, such as sports induced asthma.

Pulmonary Function Test

Any patient with asthma should have yearly PFT; all smokers should be tested annually as well Other patients would include anyone with shortness of breath, chronic cough, suspicion of exercise-induced asthma or any other lung issues.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Any patient with lung issue such as emphysema, lung transplant, pulmonary hypertension, shortness of breath and chronic bronchitis would benefit from this program.

Sleep Study

A sleep study is a non-invasive, overnight exam that allows doctors to monitor you while you sleep to see what's happening in your brain and body. For this test, you will go to a sleep lab for an overnight stay at the hospital. HCHS is an Accredited Sleep Lab by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).

Stress Echo

A stress echocardiography, also referred to as a stress echo. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This commonly used test allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify heart disease. During a stress echocardiography, you'll exercise on a treadmill while your doctor monitors your blood pressure and heart rhythm.

Stress Test

Stress tests are tests performed by a doctor and/or trained technician to determine the amount of stress that your heart can manage before developing either an abnormal rhythm or evidence of ischemia (not enough blood flow to the heart muscle). The most commonly performed stress test is the exercise stress test.

Supervised Exercise Therapy Program

Patients with current or previous tobacco history, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, abnormal cholesterol levels, overweight and or pain in legs when walking.

Ziopatch

Ziopatch: The ZIO^® XT Patch continuously records heartbeats for up to 14 days - including during sleep, in the shower, and during moderate exercise - and has a large button on top for patients to capture symptomatic events.

Ziopatch Event: The patient wears the ZIO^® Event Card for up to 30 days. The ZIO Event Card is capable of holding up to two recordings before patient transmits data via the phone. When the patient feels a symptom the patient presses the RECORD button and the recording is stored in the device until the patient calls to transmit the data.