Oswego Health Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of Reopened Pulmonary Function Testing Lab

(Oswego, NY – April 4, 2025) Oswego Health is proud to celebrate the one-year anniversary of reopening its Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Lab, marking an important milestone in the commitment to enhancing lung health for residents in Oswego County and surrounding areas. The lab, which had temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been providing vital respiratory testing services to over 600 patients in its first year, with referrals from more than 80 healthcare providers across Oswego and Onondaga Counties.

The PFT Lab at Oswego Health, which reopened on April 4, 2024, plays a pivotal role in supporting local hospitals, pulmonologists, and healthcare providers by offering crucial diagnostic testing, including methacholine challenge tests—one of the only labs in the region to provide this service. This specialized test helps to diagnose conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restrictive lung disease, and reactive airways disease, among others. In its first year, the lab has helped patients rule out lung disease in cases where other health issues were suspected and has also contributed to the diagnosis of over a dozen college students.

Dr. Christina Liepke, a local primary care physician, shared, “Having the Pulmonary Function Testing Lab in Oswego is invaluable for our patients. It allows us to quickly and accurately diagnose lung conditions without sending patients far from home for testing. The quality of care provided at Oswego Health’s PFT Lab is exceptional—my patients trust the team here, and I know that their results will be precise and promptly delivered, allowing us to develop the best treatment plans for them.”

“We are thrilled to be celebrating the success and growth of our PFT Lab,” said Stephanie Alnutt, Director of Respiratory Therapy. “Our team has worked hard to provide comprehensive, non-invasive testing that helps diagnose and manage respiratory conditions. Our ability to support local pulmonologists and hospitals in the region is a testament to our commitment to improving the community's health.”

The PFT Lab offers a range of non-invasive tests to evaluate lung function and diagnose various pulmonary conditions. These tests include:

• Basic Spirometry
• Pre & Post Spirometry
• Complete Pulmonary Function Testing (with or without a bronchodilator)
• Industrial Screening
• Plethysmography (Lung Volume Determination)
• Nitrogen Washout
• Diffusing Capacity
• Methacholine Challenge Test
• Simple Pulmonary Exercise Test (6-minute walk test)
• Arterial Blood Gases
• Pre-Op Pulmonary Function Testing

The lab's experienced respiratory therapists include Todd Davison, Stephanie Alnutt, and Ciara Murphy. Together, they ensure that every patient receives the highest level of care.

“We are proud to offer essential services that directly impact the health and well-being of our community,” added Alnutt. “We are here to provide answers for patients, and we look forward to continuing to serve the residents of CNY.”

PFTs are essential for diagnosing various respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and sarcoidosis. They can also be used to assess lung function before surgery or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for chronic lung conditions.

For more information or to schedule a test, visit www.oswegohealth.org or call 315-349-5704. The lab currently accepts provider referrals for patients ages 8 and older.

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About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be Oswego County’s largest private employer. More than 1,400 employees spread throughout its 18 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community.  The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County, as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 100+ physicians and advanced practice providers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, and bariatrics; for more information about Oswego Health, visit www.oswegohealth.org.