Rush University Asthma Center - Rush University Medical Center

What to expect:

Please allow up to three hours for your initial appointment.

Check-in: You will receive forms and a questionnaire to complete. The information you provide will help us in our assessment of your health.

Vital signs: A nurse will call you from the waiting room to take your vitals. From here you will be escorted into the exam room.

Exam: Our nurse coordinator will review the information you provided and ask you additional questions about your health or medications. You will also meet your asthma team, a team of physicians and nurse practitioner assigned specifically to help you with your asthma. Based upon your history and exam, the appropriate tests will be recommended. The nurse coordinator will explain these tests and give you written information.

Testing:

Skin testing
Pulmonary function tests
CT scans and x-rays
Endoscopic Tests
Stress test for exercise induced asthma
Oral and inhalation challenges: Methacholine and antigen-specific
Exhaled nitric oxide testing
Impulse Oscilometry of the upper and lower airway

Each patient will receive both the skin test and the pulmonary function test at their initial visit. Skin testing will take approximately one hour and consists of placing proteins on the skin to test sensitivity and determine if a patient's asthma is due to an allergen. Pulmonary function test will take approximately 20 minutes and consists of exhaling into a machine to record lung function. This is done twice, once before medication is administered and once after. This measures a patient's airflow and severity of asthma, as well as helps diagnose any underlying lung problems.

CT scans, x-rays, endoscopic tests, stress test for exercise induced asthma, oral and inhalation challenges, exhaled nitric oxide testing, and impulse oscilometry are conducted based on the patient's specific needs.

Test results: Once the tests are completed you will meet with your doctor and the nurse coordinator to go over your results. Based on this information they will be able to recommend a course of treatment and answer any questions you may have. They will also discuss asthma education and give you some suggestions on asthma management.

Next steps: At checkout you will be able to take care of your account. You will also schedule your follow up visit within the next two weeks, for group education and to evaluate your progress.

Preparing for your visit:

Please bring a complete list of current medications.
Please bring any previous records of sinus x-rays or CT scans if available.
Please have name and contact information for referring physician.
If possible, stop taking antihistamines five days before your visits. This helps assure accurate allergy testing.
If possible, stop using asthma inhalers six hours before your visit. This helps assure accurate pulmonary testing.
Stop smoking four to six hours prior to your visit.
To assure time for a comprehensive evaluation, please allow three to four hours for your initial visit.