CardioPulmonary Services

CardioPulmonary is a group of departments whose primary focus is cardiac, pulmonary or a combination of both. These departments include Cardiac Rehab, Electrocardiology, Echocardiology & Vascular, Pulmonary Function Lab, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab.

Cardiac Rehab

Kim Runnebaum, Registered Nurse, is in charge of the cardiac rehab program at CMH. She performs cardiac stress testing and cardiac rehabilitation. The Cardiac Rehab department has been upgraded to the Mortara X-Scribe Stress Exercise system.

Electrocardiology

Electrocardiology provides a full line of cardiac diagnostics, including 12 lead EKGs, holter monitoring, and stress testing. An EKG records the electrical activity of your heart through small electrode patches that a technician attaches to the skin of your chest. During the test, you'll lie on a table while a computer records the electrical impulses that move through your heart. A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that is about the size of a deck of cards, that records your heart rhythm for up to three days. A Holter monitor may be able to detect irregularities in your heart rhythm that an electrocardiogram may not. The information captured on the Holter monitor will be used to determine if there is an irregularity with your heart rhythm. A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how your heart works during physical activity. Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster, an exercise stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within your heart.

Echocardiography and Vascular Studies

Cardiac and vascular ultrasounds are non-invasive procedures that use ultrasound to study the structure and motions of the heart and vascular structure. The results will be viewed and interpreted by cardiologists from Nebraska Heart Institute, Pioneer Heart Institute, and Bryan Heart Institute, in Lincoln Nebraska. The Cardiac Ultrasound provides information for heart failure, heart valve functions, pressure in the heart, heart size, and heart muscle damage. The Vascular Ultrasound provides information for blocked arteries throughout the body and blood clots within veins. Alexa Eckhoff, RDCS, RVT, provides these services Monday through Friday.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a comprehensive, medically-monitored exercise and education program emphasizing disease prevention and management, education and support. It is designed to help patients increase their endurance and quality of life after experiencing a variety of heart and lung conditions. Dietitians, psychologists and therapists all come together to help our pulmonary patients in their journey. Driven by support for our patients and their families, Pulmonary Rehab delivers individualized multidisciplinary programs that teach patients how to take control of their own health.
Pulmonary Rehab Patient Testimonials
& Pulmonary Rehab Newsletters, April 2020

Pulmonary Function Lab

A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) is a test to measure how well the air flows into and out of your lungs.
You will be breathing into a computer that records volume and flow rates. Some of the test require normal breathing while other require breathing quickly or holding your breath for a short time. The accuracy and value of the test relies on you following the technician's instructions.
After test, you may feel lightheaded from breathing rapidly. You will be allowed to rest between attempts. Water will be provided if needed. If a bronchodilator is used, you may feel a little shaky, but this feeling will subside in approximately 15 minutes.

Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician's orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS, and other lung or lung-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

All staff Respiratory Therapists hold national credentials of RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) or CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) and are licensed as Respiratory Care Practitioners by the State of Kansas.

Sleep Lab

See our Sleep Lab Services brochure

CMH provides sleep diagnostic testing two nights a week. CMH takes pride in having its own Registered Polysomnographer to perform and score sleep studies. Roxanne Woodside, CRT, RPSGT, cares for you from the time of scheduling until the results are determined. Sleep studies are interpreted by Dr. Steven Short, certified in Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, or Dr. Nanda Kumar, certified in Neurology and Sleep Disorders. Drs. Short and Kumar consult with your primary care physician to create a personalized treatment program for your condition.

For information regarding sleep diagnostics, contact Roxanne Woodside, CRT, RPSGT, at 562-4491.