Cabinet Peaks Medical Center adds device to help treat lung disease patients

For many Lincoln County residents, lung disease and its disabling symptoms are a part of everyday life.

Cabinet Peaks Medicals Center’s Cardiopulmonary Department has purchased an intrapulmonary percussion ventilator (IPV) to help those admitted to the facility with symptoms from lung disease receive the care they need.

The IPV device allows respiratory therapists to deliver better care and allows for a quicker recovery from the symptoms caused by pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis and many other lung problems.

It delivers improved lung expansion by opening airways and breaking up thick secretions while delivering lung medications deeper into the lungs, according to information from the hospital.

“The hospital admitted and treated over 200 pneumonia patients last year alone. The IPV has been shown to decrease hospital stays by 3-6 days per patient and provides a faster COPD exacerbation recovery period,” said Alan Carmignani, CPMC Cardiopulmonary Manager. “The IPV unit can be used on pediatric and neonatal patients as well.”

Statistics show that 1 in 10 people in Libby have an asbestos-related disease. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic and it can be a recipe for disaster.

Carmignani acknowledged, “Our goal is to have the unit operational by the end of July, just in time for fire season. It is especially important to our community and its history to continue to bring big hospital level care to our small-town community.”

For more information about the Cardiopulmonary Department, call 283-7191.