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Toms River, N.J., August 28, 2003 – For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or other respiratory conditions, measuring and evaluating lung function is beneficial in establishing a proper treatment plan. At Community Medical Center, respiratory patients now have access to the leading edge of lung function testing, thanks to new equipment that performs body plethysmography, a non-invasive procedure to estimate the residual volume of the lungs and make measurements of other variables of interest in the study of lung function.
The technology, also referred to as a body box, is essentially a glass chamber similar to that of a large telephone booth, in which the patient sits and breathes through a tube. The tube is connected to an analyzer that measures the difference in air pressure in the box during a series of breathing maneuvers. The most common measurements made during
body plethysmography are thoracic gas volume and airway resistance. The procedure, which takes about 45 minutes, is performed by a certified pulmonary function technologist.
Patients interested in a body plethysmography assessment should talk to their physician to see if they would benefit from the test. For more information, contact Community Medical Center’s Physician Referral Service at (732) 286-6111.
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Community Medical Center (CMC) is an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, the largest integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey, with nine acute care hospitals, nine nursing homes, five ambulatory care facilities, three geriatric centers, three assisted living residencies, a freestanding 100-bed inpatient psychiatric facility and a statewide behavioral health network. Located in Toms River, Community is a fully accredited, acute-care 596-bed facility offering the most advanced, ultra-modern diagnostic and treatment services, including emergency and urgent care, laser and arthroscopic surgery, maternity and a Level II special care nursery and pediatrics unit. CMC offers the Community Regional Cancer Center, affiliated with the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia; state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology; a Renal Dialysis Center; a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, as well as general medical and health care services to the residents of Ocean County; and the Center for Kids and Family with sites located in Toms River and Lacey. Community Medical Center has been awarded the esteemed Magnet Status for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Association's Credentialing Center (ANCC).
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