Cardio / Respiratory Services & Sleep Medicine

Phone: (208) 365-3561 Ext. 3422

• Outpatient Clinic Hours: Mon & Wed 7am – 3:30 pm
• Inpatient Services Hours: Mon – Sun 7am – 7:30 pm. + on-call after hours

At Valor Health, therapists on our skilled cardio/respiratory team have earned advanced certifications as registered or certified respiratory therapists, licensed by the state of Idaho to provide all levels of respiratory care. Our team evaluates and manages a variety of lung conditions including chronic respiratory disease, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Therapists and staff also personalize treatment plans to manage chronic conditions like asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, infectious lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory diseases. 

Cardio/Respiratory teams are heavily invested in preventative care for post-operative patients; therapists provide lung inflation therapy and monitor a patient’s ability to maintain healthy lung function following surgery. Respiratory therapists also assess and manage the lung function of patients in the emergency room, inpatients during their hospital stay, and respiratory transitional care patients.

Physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists collaborate to develop long-term treatment programs for acute respiratory crises including:

• Asthma and Allergy Care
• Pulmonary Disease Management (chronic and acute)
• Critical Care Medicine
• Diagnostic Sleep Laboratory
• Sleep Medicine

Outpatient services:

• Pulmonary (Lung) Function Testing/ Spirometry
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Cardiac Stress Testing

Inpatient services:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Pulmonary Function Exams at Bedside
• Aerosol Delivery of Medications
• Bronchial Hygiene
• Chest Physical Therapy—to assist with clearing the airways of secretions, suctioning, and postural drainage.
• Lung Inflation Therapies—including PEP therapy and incentive spirometry therapy, adult, child, and Infant ventilator management, CPAP and bi-level noninvasive ventilation, arterial blood gas sampling, and analysis, intubation and CPR  
• Respiratory Disease Education

Meet Our Cardio/Respiratory Team:

Visiting Specialists

Sleep Medicine

Phone: (208) 365-3561 Ext. 3258

• Sleep Medicine Clinic Hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 5 pm
• Sleep Study Hours: Mon – Sun 7pm – 7:30 am

At the Valor Health Sleep Lab, our full-service sleep program is dedicated to treating and diagnosing adult sleep disorders. A full evaluation can help providers diagnose many common sleep disorders including sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and narcolepsy. Our comfortable, home-like environment has been designed to make patients feel at ease and better able to replicate sleeping patterns they experience at home. The sleep lab is staffed by experienced, highly skilled sleep technicians, and each study is reviewed by a board-certified sleep medicine physician.

What is a sleep lab?– A sleep laboratory is a specialized center where providers administer sleep studies to diagnose sleep disorders. An in-lab sleep study gives providers the most complete evaluation of your sleep and can help ensure proper diagnoses and treatments for sleep disorders. Information gathered during sleep studies are reviewed and evaluated by sleep specialists.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)- The most common reason providers recommend sleep studies is to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when the muscles of the throat relax and the airway collapses. Air cannot get into the lungs and the level of oxygen in the blood goes down. Many people with OSA are unaware that they are experiencing issues; it’s often the patient’s bed partner who recognizes the symptoms.  

Symptoms of obstructed sleep apnea include:

• Snoring
• Daytime Sleepiness or Fatigue
• Headaches in the Morning
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Irritability
• Restlessness During Sleep
• Sudden Awakenings with Sensations of Gasping or Choking

Common conditions linked to OSA include:

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Heart Attacks
• High Blood Pressure
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes

OSA is also linked to other disruptions that impact overall health and wellness such as:

• Difficulty Concentrating—which can impact work productivity and strain personal relationships
• Car Accidents—excessive sleepiness from improper rest increases the risk of falling asleep while driving, and the risk of fatal car accidents is much greater
• Mental Wellness—OSA can lead to higher risks of mental health conditions including anxiety and depression
• Surgery Complications—untreated OSA increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, airway obstructions and other complications during surgery

The day of your sleep medicine test:

• Stick to your regular routine as closely as possible
• Do not nap
• No caffeinated beverages after lunch/noon
• Do not use hair sprays or gels; they can interfere with monitoring
• If you take regular medications, ask your healthcare provider if you should take them the day of your sleep study

What to bring to the sleep lab?

Bring comfortable pajamas, anything needed for your nightly routine (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.), and any medications directed by your health care provider.

Dr. Patrick Plummer is the Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Laboratory at Valor Health and a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine.

---