Medicina Medical
offers pulse oximetry testing services for patients in skilled
nursing or assisted living facilities. We have the ability to
perform several types oxygen saturation studies to meet the needs of
the facility.
What is pulse
oximetry?
Pulse oximetry is a test used to measure the oxygen level (oxygen
saturation) of the blood. It is an easy, painless measure of how
well oxygen is being sent to parts of the body furthest the heart,
such as the arms and legs. A clip-like device called a probe is
placed on a body part, such as a finger or ear lobe. The probe uses
light to measure how much oxygen is in the blood. This information
helps the physician decide if a person needs extra oxygen
Why nursing home
patients may need pulse an oximetry test?
Pulse oximetry may be used to see if there is enough oxygen in the
blood. This information is needed in many kinds of situations.
Medically necessary reasons for pulse oximetry include;
1. Patient exhibits
signs or symptoms of acute respiratory dysfunction such as:
● Tachypnea
● Dyspnea
● Cyanosis
● Respiratory distress
● Confusion
● Hypoxia
2. Patient has
chronic lung disease, severe cardiopulmonary disease, or
neuromuscular disease involving the muscles
of respiration, and oximetry is needed for at least one of the
following reasons:
● Initial
evaluation to determine the severity of respiratory impairment.
● evaluation of an acute change in condition.
● evaluation of exercise tolerance in a patient with respiratory
disease.
● evaluation to establish medical necessity of oxygen therapeutic
regimen.
3. Patient has
sustained severe multiple trauma or complains of acute severe chest
pain.
4. Patient is under
treatment with a medication with known pulmonary toxicity and
oximetry is medically necessary to
monitor for potential adverse effects of therapy.
5. To qualify a
patient that will be discharged home on oxygen.
Ordering a pulse
oximetry and how the process works:
1) Call customer
service at 1-216-351-0224 and fax the resident face sheet and
oximetry test order to 1-866-763-9505.
2) Upon receipt of the order Medicina will deliver and instruct
nursing staff on how to setup the pulse ox machine.
3) The resident wears a finger probe sensor during sleep.
4) The next morning the pulse ox machine will be picked up and the
test results are downloaded to produce the pulse oximetry report.
6) Test results are fax directly to the facility with 48 hours.
7) The prescribing physician reviews the information on the report
and authorizes oxygen therapy if needed.
For more information we invite you to
Contact Us.
