Diagnostic Testing Services

Pulmonary Function Testing

KVCH is home to one of the most advanced pulmonary function test (PFT) labs in Washington State and our staff members have been trained at the #1 rated PFT training facility in the United States located in Yorba Linda, CA.

PFT testing is ordered by physicians and used to diagnose pulmonary (lung) disease, track the progress of disease, identify if a patient's symptoms are pulmonary related, and evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed medications.

How to prepare

If your doctor orders a PFT and you are currently taking breathing treatments, please do not take these medications four hours before testing is scheduled.

What to expect

Allow approximately one hour for testing.

Albuterol, a bronchodilator, is used as part of this treatment to relax muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs.
The PFT measures how much and how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs. For this test, you breathe into a mouthpiece attached to a recording device.
All PFTs completed at KVCH are over-read by a board-certified pulmonary physician.

Cardiac Stress Testing

KVCH provides both standard cardiac stress testing and cardiac stress echocardiogram testing.

Cardiac stress testing is a tool used by physicians to determine the presence of cardiac disease by evaluating arterial blood flow to the heart muscle during physical exercise, compared to blood flow while at rest.

The cardiac stress echocardiogram is performed by a sonographer, a technician specializing in using ultrasound techniques. The sonographer applies warm gel to the chest area. This gel helps the transducer, a wand-like instrument, glide smoothly over the body and send high-frequency sound waves to the heart. The transducer picks up the echoes of the sound waves and transmits them as electrical impulses. The echocardiography machine converts the impulses to moving images of the heart. These images are studied before exercise, the echocardiogram process is repeated after exercise, and the results of each are compared.

*This service requires a physician's order and a stress test qualified physician must be present.

How to prepare

Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes.
Wear a pair of walking shoes or sneakers.
Do not apply any creams, lotions, or powders to the chest area on the day of your test.

What to expect

Allow approximately one hour for testing.
You will be asked to remove the clothing from your upper body. Female patients will be given a hospital gown for a cover-up.
Ten electrodes will be placed on the upper body to monitor your heart's electrical activity during testing. This recording, which is called an EKG (electrocardiogram), shows how fast your heart is beating and the heart's rhythm. The machine also records the strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through each part of your heart.
A blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm to monitor blood pressure changes before, during, and after exercise.
The patient will walk on a slightly inclined treadmill at a very slow pace. Every three minutes, the treadmill will increase in speed and incline, and patients will be required to meet target heart rate based on national standards. For some patients, this target may be reached very quickly with only walking; however, athletically fit patients may require very fast walking or even running on the treadmill to reach their target.
When it is determined by you and your physician that it is time to end the stress test, you will lie down for the recovery period.
With a stress echocardiogram, you will lie in position for the post stress echocardiogram.
Your physician can inform you as to how the test looked based on the EKG data, but in the event of a stress echocardiogram, your physician may defer the final reading until the echocardiogram has been over-read by a cardiologist.

Holter Monitoring

KVCH provides 24-hour holter monitoring services. This testing is used by your physician to diagnose irregular cardiac rhythmus, cardiac symptoms, medication effectiveness, medication reactions, or any other type of cardiac-related issue that cannot be diagnosed by a simple in- office 12 lead EKG.

KVCH uses state-of-the-art digital monitors. These monitors are very small and portable; with the proper clothing can be worn very discreetly.

*This service requires a physicians order.

How to prepare

Wear a buttoned blouse or shirt without an undershirt for easy access to your chest.
Do not apply any creams, lotions, or powder to the chest area on the day of your test.

What to expect

Allow 45 minutes for the hook up portion of the procedure.
You will have seven electrode patches placed on your chest. These patches will be connected to electrodes with wires that are connected to the digital recorder. The digital recorder is placed in a small pouch that can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist.
You may go about your daily activities, except you will not be able to shower, bathe, or get the equipment wet during the 24-hour recording period.
You will be required fill out a “symptom” diary during the 24-hour period.
At the end of the 24-hour period you will return to KVCH to have the holter removed. You should allow 15 minutes and your portion of the study is complete.
The RT staff will download data and create a report that will go to Kittitas Valley Internal Medicine for over-read by a specially trained physician.
Once the over-read is complete, a dictated report/result will be sent to your ordering physician.

Electrocardiogram

KVCH provides both inpatient and outpatient electrocardiogram (EKG) services. The EKG is used by your physician to analyze the electrical activity of the heart, identify heart damage, identify irregular rhythmus, and to identify potential problems before they occur. This service is available to everyone even if your physician is outside the area.

*This service requires a physician's order that must include the specific indication for the EKG.

What to expect

You should allow 15-30 minutes for this procedure.
Do not apply creams, lotions, or powders to your chest, arms, or legs on the day of the test.
Generalized indications such as pre-op EKG or annual physical may be declined from insurance providers. In the event of a generalized indication, you will be asked to sign an ABN statement indicating you are aware or have been informed that insurance payment may be declined for the service and that you agree to pay for the service in full should this occur.
You will be asked to remove your clothing and wear a hospital gown.
Several electrodes will be placed on the upper body, arms and legs to monitor your heart's electrical activity during testing. This recording shows how fast your heart is beating and the heart's rhythm. The machine also records the strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through each part of your heart.
If you need an outpatient EKG you do not need an appointment. This service is provided on a walk-in basis.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

KVCH provides 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The ABPM is used by your physician to determine if hypertension or hypotension is present. This tool is useful for individuals who become nervous just at the thought of visiting their physician. These individuals commonly have high blood pressures when checked at the doctor's office but have normal blood pressure when in their normal environment. The ABPM is also used to test the effectiveness of blood pressure medications to ensure blood pressure goals are being met and used to determine if patient symptoms are blood pressure related.

*This service requires a physician's order.

What to expect

Allow 15-20 minutes for AMPM hook up.
Once hooked up to the cuff and recorder, you will be required to wear the monitor for 24-hours.
After 24-hours, remove the cuff and recorder; and return these items to the KVCH Respiratory Care Services for downloading.
Once downloaded, a detailed report will be sent to your ordering physician.