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Respiratory Therapy

The Respiratory Therapy Department

Respiratory therapists are specially trained healthcare professionals who work with physicians to provide a wide range of respiratory procedures and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and other lung related conditions. The standards for the Respiratory Therapy department are established by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. and the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Our respiratory care team here at MMH, manage our patients with breathing disorders by providing assessments, monitoring and physician directed therapy as well as various diagnostic tests. We treat and assist with all age groups of patients ranging from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to geriatric patients with lung diseases. In addition, we treat patients experiencing emergency respiratory issues related to illness and injury. Our team of therapists also provides important information and education on self-management techniques that help individuals and families deal with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD.

Services are available for patients of all ages.
Our operating hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Inpatient Services

  • Emergency care
  • ICU – Critical patient care
  • Oxygen administration (via numerous devices, as ordered by a physician).
  • Pulmonary hygiene (including chest physiotherapy, cough-assist, suctioning, or use of PEP (Positive Expiratory Pressure) therapy and other patient-use devices for airway clearance)
  • Inhaled pulmonary medications (delivered via nebulizer, aerosol, or inhalers)
  • Invasive and Non-invasive ventilator support, utilizing the latest technology
  • Vapotherm, High flow VNI therapy (High Flow Velocity Nasal Cannula)

Outpatient Services

  • Pulmonary function testing
  • In-Lab Sleep Studies and Home Sleep Studies
  • Respiratory Outpatient Clinic (ROC)
  • Cardiac Monitoring Services-monitored by the Mayo Clinic

Respiratory Outpatient Clinic (ROC)

Our Respiratory Outpatient Clinic (ROC) provides specialized care for infants (newborn to 18 months) suffering from Bronchiolitis, a common seasonal illness most frequently caused by RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). With a referral from your child’s primary care provider, our expert respiratory therapists will assess your child and provide targeted treatments, including small volume nebulizers and suctioning. These treatments quickly relieve labored breathing, making it easier for your child to breathe, eat, drink, and sleep. By intervening early, the ROC helps families avoid severe complications like dehydration and hospitalization.

What is Bronchiolitis & RSV

A viral infection of the lower airways that causes inflammation and blockages in the lungs' smallest air passages. It is highly common in children under two and peaks between November and April.

how it spreads

The virus is highly contagious and catches easily through close contact, coughing, sneezing, or by touching contaminated objects and then touching the eyes or nose.

Timeline

Symptoms typically begin 3 to 7 days after exposure.
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Bronchiolitis Symptoms

Early symptoms

  • Fever
  • Runny nose or nasal stuffiness
  • Mild cough
  • Decreased appetite
  • Mild breathing changes

Worsening Symptoms (1–3 days later)

  • Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out)
  • Rapid breathing (60–80 breaths per minute)
  • Constant coughing
  • Difficulty eating
  • Severe breathing problems
  • Apnea (short pauses in breathing, especially in premature babies or infants under 2 months)

Pulmonary Function Testing (PFTs)

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are a group of non-invasive tests that measure how well your lungs work, including how easily you breathe and how effectively your lungs deliver oxygen to your body.

Your doctor may order these tests to check your baseline lung health, determine the cause of breathing symptoms, or:

  • Monitor Chronic Conditions: Track the progression or treatment response of diseases like asthma or COPD.
  • Assess Risk: Evaluate your lung function before undergoing surgery.
  • Check Exposures: Monitor your lungs if you are regularly exposed to certain substances at work or in your environment.

How to Prepare

To ensure accurate results, please follow these guidelines on the day of your test:

  • Medications: Ask your doctor if you should temporarily stop taking any inhalers or airway-opening medications.
  • Food & Habits: Avoid eating a large meal (a full stomach prevents deep inhalation). Do not smoke or engage in strenuous exercise for at least one hour before the test.
  • Clothing & Dentures: Wear loose-fitting clothing that won't restrict your breathing. If you wear dentures, please wear them to help create a tight seal around the testing mouthpiece.
If you have had a recent heart attack or recent eye, chest, or abdominal surgery, please notify your care team, as your test will likely need to be delayed until you are fully recovered.

At Home Sleep Test

Do you find yourself waking up tired, or maybe with a headache or dry mouth? Obstructive sleep apnea could be to blame. This happens when your breathing is interrupted during sleep, often for more than ten seconds.

At-home sleep apnea testing is an easy, cost-effective way to figure out whether you’re having trouble breathing while sleeping. A home sleep apnea test is a very simplified breathing monitor that tracks your breathing, oxygen levels, and breathing effort while worn. If you are being told that you snore, snort and gasp, if you have disrupted sleep or are sleepy during the day, and you are overweight or obese, an at-home sleep apnea test may be very appropriate for you. Talk with your clinical provider about your options.

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The Facts

A sleep test is meant to evaluate a patient for sleep apnea, and it monitors breathing parameters, not the sleep itself.
This isn't an over-the-counter test.
The sensors include a small probe over your finger that measures oxygen levels.
Most at-home sleep tests are used just for one night.
With an at-home study, you’ll be in the comfort of your own surroundings.
After the test, your results will be reviewed by a sleep certified physician and sent to your primary physician.

Remote Cardiac Monitoring

Traditional patch-based cardiac monitoring can be cumbersome for patients and slow to deliver results, often failing to provide physicians with the real-time, high-quality data needed for informed care. This advanced mobile cardiac telemetry platform overcomes these challenges by giving providers real-time access to full-disclosure, customizable tracings, ensuring they receive only the most pertinent, high-value information.

Designed to accelerate answers and eliminate long wait times, this streamlined solution delivers an easy-to-use cellular monitoring device to patients within one to three days of authorization. Worn for a single continuous period, the device features a six-lead system that provides unparalleled multi-channel clarity, ensuring fast, reliable results with the patient's comfort in mind.

Patient Spotlight - Meckenzie Tinaglia
Patient Spotlight - Dan O'Bryan

Before Monitoring

Proactive engagement by members of the technical team prior to the start of monitoring ensures patients understand how to connect their device, how it works, and how to reach members of their monitoring team with questions.

During Monitoring

For patients, the best monitoring program is one that delivers clear results quickly and with minimal disruption to daily life. This streamlined solution features a consolidated technology platform that allows patients to move seamlessly through all types of testing.

After Monitoring

A collaborative team handles the logistics to deliver time- and cost-saving answers exactly when you and your patients need them most.

the Zio® Monitor

We are proud to now offer the Zio monitor by iRhythm, a cutting-edge, long-term continuous cardiac monitor designed to make heart health tracking effortless. As iRhythm's thinnest, lightest, and most discreet patch monitor yet, the Zio monitor fits seamlessly into your daily life. It features a waterproof, breathable design that allows you to shower, sleep, and exercise without interruption. By combining this comfortable wear with advanced, FDA-cleared AI and certified cardiac technicians, the Zio service provides highly accurate data so your care team can make the right diagnosis the first time.

Minidoka Memorial Hospital

1224 8th Street
Rupert, ID 83350

Minidoka Medical Center RHC

1308 8th St #1
Rupert, ID 83350

Minidoka Memorial Orthopedic Center and Imaging

260 E 5th St N
Burley, ID 83318