Ear Irrigation

Ear Irrigation is a routine procedure used to remove excess earwax (also called cerumen) and foreign materials from the ear. The ear naturally secretes wax to protect and lubricate itself, as well as to keep debris out and hinder bacterial growth. Under normal conditions, the body keeps the amount of earwax under control. However, too much earwax or hardened earwax can cause a blockage in the ear, resulting in earaches, ringing in the ears, or temporary hearing loss.

The ear, especially the canal and eardrum, is very sensitive. Earwax buildup can cause damage to these structures over time. This can affect your hearing. Removing excess earwax with ear irrigation is a safe way to minimize the risk of ear damage. Sometimes foreign materials, like food, insects, or small stones, can also get into the ear. In these cases, the goal is to safely and quickly remove the items before they move deeper into the ear or damage the delicate ear canal.

Joint Injections

Cortisone shots can help relieve pain and inflammation in specific areas of your body. They are most commonly injected into joints, such as the ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, or wrist. Cortisone shots may be most effective for treating inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis. They can also treat other conditions, such as back pain (trigger point injections), bursitis, gout, osteoarthritis, and tendinitis.

IV Infuvite

IV Infuvite, a powerful influx of fluids and nutrients, could rapidly improve the health of your skin, joints, and muscles by flushing toxins from these areas. Infuvite (administered in intravenous fluids under proper dilution) delivers necessary vitamins for maintaining the body’s repair processes and normal resistance to illness.

Spirometry

Spirometry is a common office test used to assess how well your lungs work by measuring how much air you inhale, how much you exhale, and how quickly you exhale. Spirometry is used to diagnose and monitor asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other conditions that affect breathing. Spirometry may also be used periodically to monitor your lung condition and determine whether a treatment for a chronic lung condition is helping you breathe better.

Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)

An electrocardiogram records the electrical signals in your heart. It is used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor your heart’s health. Your doctor may use an electrocardiogram to determine or detect:

• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias).
• Whether blocked or narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) are causing chest pain or a heart attack.
• Whether you have had a previous heart attack.
• How well certain heart disease treatments, such as a pacemaker, are working.

If your doctor finds any problems on your ECG or EKG, he or she may order additional tests to see if further treatment is necessary.

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

This test is a simple way for your doctor to determine how well your blood is flowing in your extremities. We use this test to check for peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD means you have blockages in the arteries of your arms and legs. This slows your blood flow, so your limbs do not get all the oxygen they need. If you have PAD, you’re more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. The ABI test compares the blood pressure at your ankle with the blood pressure at your arm. If you have a low score on this test, you probably have poor blood flow in your legs.

Allergy Testing & Treatments

An allergy test is performed to determine whether your body has an allergic reaction to a known substance. This exam can take the form of a blood test, a skin test, or an elimination diet.

Allergies occur when your immune system, which is your body’s natural defense, overreacts to something in your environment. For example, pollen, which is normally harmless, can cause your body to overreact. This overreaction can lead to:

• A runny nose
• Sneezing
• Blocked sinuses
• Itchy, watery eyes

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergies affect more than 50 million people in the USA. Inhaled allergens are by far the most common type. Seasonal allergies and hay fever, which is an allergic response to pollen, affect more than 40 million Americans. The World Allergy Organization estimates that asthma is responsible for 250,000 deaths annually. These deaths can be avoided with proper allergy care, as asthma is considered an allergic disease process. Allergy testing can determine which pollens, molds, or other substances you are allergic to. You may need medication to treat your allergies. Alternatively, you can try to avoid your allergy triggers.

Immunotherapy is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions to substances such as grass pollens, tree pollens, dust mites, foods, etc. Immunotherapy involves giving gradually increasing doses of the substance (allergen) to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases in the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance. Immunotherapy also reduces the inflammation that characterizes rhinitis and asthma.

Sleep Studies

In-Home Sleep Study: To diagnose sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, a patient must undergo polysomnography (PSG; a sleep study). This is typically conducted in a sleep lab, requiring the patient to spend the night in the lab, while the PSG equipment records his/her physiological data. However, with the  technological advancements of today, PSG can be performed at home via a home sleep study/test. PSG records your brain waves, the oxygen level in your blood, and your heart and breathing rates. In addition to helping diagnose sleep disorders, PSG may be used to help adjust your treatment plan if you have already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

Overnight Oximetry monitors the amount of oxygen in your blood while you sleep. As a vital part of the initial evaluation process for respiratory diseases, overnight oximetry helps to determine the need to start, continue, or increase home oxygen therapy for your respiratory condition. The device used to record oxygen levels in the blood is called an oximeter. An oxygen sensor is placed on your finger and sends essential data to the oximeter, which measures and records your heart rate and the oxygen levels in your blood.

Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry

Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (MCOT) is a small, cordless, easy to use sensor, which is placed on the upper left chest of the patient. Patients can discreetly wear the device during their daily activities and even in the shower. MCOTs have an extended memory capable of continuously measuring heart rate and rhythm over several days. Cardiac events are detected even if the patient is asymptomatic. The recording is transmitted to a central surveillance center for real-time analysis, with a final report being furnished to your provider upon the completion of the monitoring period. This report will help the provider determine if immediate treatment is required, if additional testing is recommended, or if further evaluation from a specialist is the best course of action.