Frequently Asked Questions

A pulmonary function test (PFT) is a series of breathing tests that determine your lung volumes and capacities and lets us know if you have any obstructions or restrictions in your lungs and how well your lungs move oxygen to your blood. These tests are very important in helping diagnosis, evaluate current treatment, and stage various lung diseases.

In an effort to give you the best quality care, it is important to retrieve the information off of your CPAP machine to determine if your prescribed pressure is adequately treating your sleep apnea. If you are having problems with your mask or machine, by bringing everything with you, you allow our staff to triage those issues one-on-one and find a solution at your appointment opposed to working over the phone, with your DME company, or a return visit to the office with all equipment.

DME stands for “Durable Medical Equipment” and provides equipment such as CPAP’s and oxygen therapy to our patients in need of those types of equipment. They are typically staffed by Respiratory Therapists whom support medical offices and patients requiring those therapies.

Pulmonologists are board-certified internal medicine physicians with special training in diagnosing and treating pulmonary (lung) and respiratory tract disorders. Among the medical conditions pulmonologists manage are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, sleep apnea, and tuberculosis.