VIDEO: Breathing easier with the help of respiratory therapists at EPH
Michael Morton recently underwent a pulmonary function test at Estes Park Health. The 75-year-old Estes Park retiree was hospitalized in 2023 when one of his lungs filled with fluid. He’s recovered now, but his doctor wants to check his lung function.
“My pulmonary physician decided he wanted to see how my breathing was doing,” Morton said. “It’s just a test to follow up and make sure I’m still doing well.”
Respiratory therapist Bill Christen guided him through the process. The sensitive machine analyzes and test lung volumes, lung capacity, rates of flow, and how gas exchange takes place in the lungs.
“It’s a noninvasive diagnostic test to let you know how well your lungs are working,” Christen explained. “All that data, once it’s collected, is then transferred via our electronic health records to a pulmonary physician.”
The pulmonary function test can help with a diagnosis of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known as COPD. The test can also let physicians know how well pharmacological treatments are working.
Respiratory therapist Bill Christen listens to Michael Morton’s lungs. (Wendy Rigby/Estes Park Health)
Christen has been working as a respiratory therapist for more than 35 years. He has spent the last three years working with patients at Estes Park Health. He enjoys the hands-on nature of his job and helping people.
“There’s a community up here that needs to be served and I’m glad that we’re able to do that,” Christen remarked. “I think it makes it so much simpler for that patient, so they don’t have to leave town.”
The respiratory therapists at Estes Park Health perform 25 or 30 pulmonary function tests each month. They also perform what’s called a six-minute walking test to see if patients need to be on supplemental oxygen or if they need their oxygen adjusted.
Sam Schwab lives in Big Elk Meadows near Estes Park. His primary care doctor suggested he take the walking test since he has been having some symptoms.
“I told him I’ve had shortness of breath,” Schwab commented. “And so, he’s trying to follow up to see exactly why. We walk a loop in our neighborhood. It’s a little over a mile, mile-and-a-quarter. It was getting to where I’d have to stop every two or three minutes to catch my breath. When I start to do physical things, I’m short of breath and my muscles feel fatigued until I warm up and then I can go, go, go. He said you’ve probably got maybe the start of emphysema or COPD. So, we’re just going through the motions to see what we need to do to make my life easier.”
Respiratory therapist Michelle Heydenreich is the professional who conducted Schwab’s test. She has been an RT for more than 30 years. She likes her job and says it’s different every day.
“Every patient is different,” Heydenreich stressed. “Everyone reacts to everything differently. Something is always changing it seems. And it feels good to make people feel better. Like if they can’t breathe, we’re their best friend because we have the tools to help them breathe.”
Along with outpatient lung testing like sleep studies, RTs also help patients in the hospital with breathing treatments, ventilators and emergency care. Having respiratory therapy locally is extremely important.
“We’re at 7500 feet,” Heydenreich added. “People might have problems breathing here. But they go down to Loveland, which is 5000 feet, they’re fine. It’s extremely important that you do it where you live because this is where you’re breathing every day.”
Respiratory therapist Michelle Heydenreich helps patient Sam Schwab of Big Elk Meadows. (Wendy Rigby/Estes Park Health)
For Schwab, being able to undergo this simple test where he lives makes a lot of sense.
“Estes is much more convenient,” he noted. “We’ve been coming to this facility for 40 years, at least. The personnel are great. And they seem to care.”
For sophisticated respiratory therapy to help you breathe easier and get back to your life, think Estes Park Health. Mountaintop Medicine, Quality Care.