Before your appointment

• Your doctor will fax us a request – please make sure your contact information is accurate so we may contact you.
• We will call you to schedule an appointment and provide preparation instructions.
• You will receive a reminder call a few days before your appointment.

What to bring

• Valid Health card
• List of all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbal medicines

When you arrive

• Please register at one the self-service registration kiosks at the Main Entrance at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Clerks are available to help with the registration process.
• Upon registering, take a “puck”. It will buzz and light up when your turn comes up and indicate in which room to report.
• Use the Cardiology entrance door to go to the Pulmonary Function Lab for your test.

Preparation and procedure

• Do not use your inhaler before your test according to the time period specified during the booking call.
• Do not smoke, vape or exercise before the test.
• The Respiratory Therapist will explain how to breathe into a tube to allow the machine to measure your lung capacity.
• You will have to blow into the machine in specific ways, and several times, to collect sufficient data.
• During the test, the therapist may ask you to take Salbutamol (Ventolin), a medication that opens the airways. Data collected by the machine before and after the administration of Ventolin will be compared.
• The test is painless, but requires some effort.

Test results

• The Respiratory Therapist is are not able to give you the results of your exam. A Respirologist or Internal Medicine Specialist will analyze the recorded data and send a written report to the referring physician within 10 working days.
• Results will also be available in your electronic medical record. For information on the creation of an account and how to access your electronic medical record, visit MyChart.
• You must book an appointment with your family doctor or healthcare professional who sent us the referral to discuss your test results.

Business hours

Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except public holidays

To book an appointment

Telephone: 613-632-1111, option 1 (Ambulatory Clinics), and option 1 (Specialists)
Toll-free 1-800-790-8870, option 1

Fax: 613-636-6175

Please call at least 48 hours in advance if you must cancel or change the date of your appointment.

To reach the Respiratory Therapy Program – Pulmonary Function Lab

Telephone: 613-632-1111, extension 51201

Address

HGH – Main Campus
1111 Ghislain Street
Hawkesbury, ON K6A 3G5

The Pulmonary Function Lab is located in the Cardiology Clinic in Block A, Level 1. View the hospital plan.

External resources

• For information about lung health, diseases and research, visit The Lung Association.

Referring a un patient for spirometry/pulmonary function testing at HGH

We accept patients aged 12 and older.

To refer a patient, download the request form, fill it out and fax it to 613-636-6175.

• Pulmonary Function Testing and Education Request CLI-14-3039 v7 (PDF)
• For Respirology consultation: CLI-11-3011 v3 Ambulatory Care Consultation Request (PDF)

Appointment booking line: 1-800-790-8870, extension 72500

The Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) provides more than 40 specialized medical clinics for residents of Prescott-Russell and surrounding region. For a list of clinics, departments and services, visit Refer a patient.