At any given time, a significant number of people who are hospitalized may require some type of respiratory therapy, especially those whose health is compromised by neuromuscular or metabolic disorders. Along with an increased risk of chest infections, these disorders may increase the possibility of breathing failure that can be caused by weakness of the muscles or nerves involved in the respiratory system.

The medical professionals at the St. Charles Heart and Lung Center provide wide-ranging respiratory services to patients with pulmonary disease or dysfunctions. In addition, we serve outpatients who find that breathing issues have limited their ability to live full, active lives.

St. Charles treats disorders that can cause respiratory distress

Many neuromuscular and metabolic disorders that can negatively impact the respiratory system’s ability to function are not curable, which is why our pulmonologists and respiratory therapists’ goal is to help people maintain their current breathing capacity and, when possible, to improve that ability.

The specialists at the St. Charles Heart and Lung Center have developed guidelines that allow us to effectively formulate a plan of care for any patient with these and many other common or less-common neurological disorders that may weaken respiratory muscles or nerves:

  • Stroke
  • Seizures
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • ALS
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Pompe disease
  • Forbes disease

Respiratory services for patients of all ages

People with neuromuscular or metabolic disorders who find themselves hospitalized with impaired breathing function can be assured that our pulmonary critical care physicians and respiratory therapists at the St. Charles Heart and Lung Center have a united goal: providing you with respiratory care that results in a faster recovery. And for non-hospital care, we are glad to offer our advanced care services at St. Charles Pulmonary Clinic, which is recognized as the largest and most established respiratory care clinic east of the Cascades.

St. Charles Health System’s scope of medical excellence includes comprehensive respiratory care services in Central Oregon at our four hospitals and outpatient clinic.