Patients who are admitted to The Valley Hospital for pulmonary-related conditions are given evidence-based treatment for their specific condition. The medication regimen is determined by the patient’s diagnosis, but will also be influenced by their overall health and lifestyle.

Patients who receive any new medication during their hospital stay are provided with proper education. Upon discharge, medication is reviewed and the patient will leave with a detailed medication list. Follow-up phone calls are done to review and answer any questions patients may have about their medications and dosages.

Other inpatient pulmonary services at Valley include: 

Arterial Blood Gas Analysis

An Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis is a blood test that measures how well your lungs are bringing oxygen into your blood and removing carbon dioxide. As blood passes through your lungs, oxygen moves into the blood while carbon dioxide moves out of the blood into the lungs. An ABG test uses blood drawn from an artery, where the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels can be measured before they enter body tissues.

An ABG test is done to:

  • Check for severe breathing problems and lung diseases, including COPD, asthma, or cystic fibrosis
  • Check the progress of treatment for lung diseases
  • Determine if you need extra oxygen or help with breathing
  • Determine if you are receiving the right amount of oxygen while in the hospital
  • Measure the acid-base level in the blood of people who have uncontrolled diabetes, sleep disorders, heart failure, kidney failure, severe infections, or after a drug overdose

Diagnostic Imaging

Imaging tests used to diagnose pulmonary conditions include: 

  • Diagnostic radiology (X-ray): Sniff test, chest X-ray
  • Computed tomography (CT): CT chest, CT low-dose chest, CTA chest, CT lung biopsy, CT-guided throacentesis
  • Nuclear medicine: Ventilation and perfusion lung imaging, blood volume analysis

Interventional Treatment

  • Respiratory care: Arterial blood gas, nebulizer treatment
  • Chest physiotherapy
  • Education on respiratory disease
  • Noninvasive ventilation: Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
  • Ventilation treatment
  • High flow oxygen

Surgical Treatment

Valley's fellowship-trained thoracic surgeons perform advanced procedures for a variety of pulmonary-related conditions, including lung cancer.

Nutritional Counseling

The Valley Hospital's experienced dietitians are committed to providing patients with information on their dietetic needs based on their condition. If your physician believes you could use a dietician, nutritional consultations are available.

Social Work Services

Every patient admitted into the hospital with a pulmonary condition is visited by a case manager or a social worker. These individuals are an important part of making sure individuals have to a safe and healthy environment at home to properly recover and manage their condition.