World Asthma Day 2017 was on May 2nd, organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and saw health charities and medical practices around the world carry out fundraising initiatives and community workshops aimed at improving asthma awareness and care. As the month of May is a peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers it is a perfect time to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers and others about the disease. The day also sees the publication of three seminal papers by the European Respiratory Journal from the FP-7-funded pan-European Asthma Research & Innovation Partnership (EARIP). This is designed to provide an agreed blueprint for activities to transform asthma outcomes in Europe.
Spirometry
Currently, there’s many different tests used to help diagnose and monitor asthma. Spirometry is usually the first test a GP or asthma nurse will do to help work out how likely it is that a patient has asthma. A Spirometer measures how much air a patient can breathe out. By comparing the results to measurements that are considered ‘normal’, a GP or asthma nurse can work out if the amount of air a patient is able to breathe out is less than the expected range for their age, height and ethnicity because of inflamed or narrowed airways.
They can also see whether the airways have responded to the bronchodilator medicine. If they have, it’s likely the patient has asthma.
This test can also help the healthcare team see if symptoms might be caused by another lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Forest Medical Equipment Calibration
As with all medical equipment, Spirometers need thorough and comprehensive testing on a regular basis. Failure to adequately test a Spirometer puts it at risk of failure or of false readings being displayed from the equipment, which can have disastrous results.
We undertake thorough Medical Equipment Calibration to fully test your machines and ensure that they are safe and suitable for use. In one visit, our fully trained engineers are able to quickly yet thoroughly test and calibrate all of your equipment. Once all tests and calibrations have been completed, you’ll receive a full results pack, allowing you to claim 3 QOF points and satisfy your CQC requirements. We will beat any genuine quotation by at least 15%, and can promise you that all testing carried out will be accurate and will ensure that your Spirometer is completely accurate in the readings that it takes.