Respiratory Care

Patients admitted to Pondera Medical Center receive exceptional care from experienced and caring staff. Our Respiratory Care Department is managed by a Registered Respiratory Therapist with over 24 years experience delivering respiratory care to Montanans of all ages.

Our emphasis is on individual care and treatment along with patient education required to meet long term goals. Our inpatient and outpatient services are designed with the professional practice model of assessment, plan, intervention, and evaluation based on the American Association of Respiratory Care Clinical Practice Guidelines. Progress is noted in the patient's record and communicated to the patient's physician and nurse.

We offer a broad spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services both diagnostic and therapeutic.

The Respiratory Care Department:

• Administers medications to the pulmonary system
• Provides invasive and non-invasive ventilator support
• Facilitates bronchopulmonary drainage with chest physiotherapy
• Offers rehabilitation and exercise education
• Obtains and prepares specimens for laboratory analysis
• Collects arterial and venous blood for laboratory analysis
• Performs bedside and outpatient pulmonary function testing
• Performs cardiac stress testing
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation, insertion and maintenance of artificial airways
• Obtains routine electrocardiograms and Holter monitor recordings
• Offers teaching for every aspect of respiratory care for outpatients
• Manages Sleep Services,  where we offer state of the art diagnostic polysomnography and positive airway pressure (cpap/bipap) titration studies
• Assists the Durable Medical Equipment department in matching the best supplies and equipment with the patients who choose Pondera Medical Center as their supplier of positive airway pressure equipment

The Respiratory Care Department is centrally located between the main Reception Desk and the Acute Care Nurses Station directly across the hall from the Radiology Department. Our phone is 271-3011 with voice mail when we are away from the office. We welcome your inquiries.