Respiratory Services

Respiratory Therapists provide a range of clinical and technological services to care for patients with cardio-respiratory problems. Therapists work in a variety of settings including intensive care, emergency, chronic and acute care areas, patient education (e.g. Asthma Centre, Home Oxygen Program) and research.

Common tests ordered by the Physician may include pulmonary functions (breathing tests), and arterial blood gases (blood drawn and analyzed for oxygen, carbon dioxide levels, and pH status).

Services are provided 24 hours a day for in-house patients, and normal day coverage Monday through Friday for out-patients.

Respiratory Research
Concordia also runs a Respiratory Research Department that was opened in 2002 and is under the direction of Dr. Lawrence Homik. The department is involved in clinical research trials for Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and other respiratory diseases.

Participants in the studies are chosen from a variety of places. Some from doctor's offices, some see our advertising posters displayed in the hospital and some hear about our studies from friends and phone in to see if they are eligible to participate. The studies vary in length, from 3 months to 1 year in duration.

The Community Asthma Care Centre
The goal of the Community Asthma Care Centre is to help you, with the support of your physician, to:

• Establish and maintain control of your asthma

Or

• Achieve the best results with the least amount of medication
• Develop the self-management skills to take care of your asthma
• Become an informed decision-maker and play an important part of your asthma management

There are three steps in your visits to the Centre:

1. Step One - Initial Visit:
   Your doctor will refer you to the Centre, where a staff member will call to set up an appointment. At the Centre, you will receive individual counselling and asthma management education. You will undergo a complete assessment with a Respiratory Therapist and you may also be seen by a Specialist or other health care professional.  More visits will be booked until your asthma is controlled and your personal Action Plan has been developed. This Action plan will help you better manage your asthma.
   
   
2. Step Two - Reassessment Visit:
   Now that we know more about you and your asthma, the next few visits will help you acquire the skills needed to take an active role in your asthma management . At this visit, we will also evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment set at the initial visit.
   
   
3. Step Three - Follow-Up Visit:
   Six months after your initial visit, you will be scheduled for a follow-up visit. This visit will review the effectiveness of your Action Plan and answer any questions that you have.  Before this visit, and throughout your treatment, your regular doctor will manage your asthma. He/she is an active member of the team and will receive all the information regarding your asthma following every visit.

At the Centre, you will learn: 

• what is asthma, how to recognize and understand your body's warning signals, triggers and how to avoid them
• how to effectively take inhaled medications with minimal side effects
• how to develop an Action Plan - your personal guideline if your asthma gets out of control
• to evaluate your condition through breathing measurements
• how to achieve control or best results

Hours of Operation:
By appointment through referral by your family physician.

Address:

Concordia Hospital 
1095 Concordia Avenue 
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 
R2K 3S8 
Phone: (204) 661-7255 
Fax: (204) 667-7234