Pinckneyville Community Hospital Respiratory Department Introduces Advanced Pulmonary Function Testing Technology

Pinckneyville Community Hospital is proud to announce the addition of a new state-of-the-art Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) machine to its Respiratory Department, furthering its commitment to providing high-quality diagnostic care close to home.

The PFT machine provides comprehensive testing to evaluate how well a patient’s lungs are working by measuring lung capacity, airflow, and gas exchange. These insights help physicians diagnose lung conditions, monitor disease progression, and assess how well treatments are working.

“Upgrading this technology allows us to offer a higher level of respiratory care to our community,” said Kim Kretz, Respiratory Department Manager. “Early detection of lung disorders often results in more effective treatment plans and better outcomes for our patients.”

Pulmonary Function Testing offers numerous benefits. It helps detect lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD and pulmonary fibrosis; evaluates ongoing symptoms like shortness of breath and chronic cough; monitors the progression of respiratory illnesses; and determines how well medications or treatments are working. Physicians may also use this testing to evaluate lung function before surgery in patients who may be at risk.

Testing is often recommended for smokers or former smokers, individuals who experience chronic cough, wheezing or shortness of breath, patients already diagnosed with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, or emphysema, and those with a family history of lung disease. It is also an important diagnostic tool for individuals who have occupational exposure to dust, chemicals, or other irritants, as well as patients who need to be evaluated prior to certain surgeries due to lung or heart risk factors.

With the addition of the new PFT machine, Pinckneyville Community Hospital continues its mission of providing accessible, high-quality respiratory services to residents in Pinckneyville and the surrounding areas.

For more information on the pulmonary function test, please contact the Respiratory Department at 618-357-5907.