You hear it called “pulse ox.” You see hospitalized patients wearing it — a plastic clip with a light attached to their finger.

What is it?

A pulse oximeter help assess your breathing by measuring the oxygen saturation of arterial blood. It also measures your heart rate.

Respiratory Care, associated with the Pulmonology Department, offers outpatient pulse oximetry in Barron, Bloomer, Eau Claire and Osseo. That means you can have this simple screening test overnight in your own home. Providers are able to:

• Assess your home oxygen use
• Evaluate your oxygen levels on room air

After your home assessment is completed, you may return the pulse oximeter to Respiratory Care the next day. Results are interpreted by a pulmonologist. Your health care provider arranges appropriate follow up with you. This may include a referral for sleep evaluation with a pulmonologist or neurologist, evaluation by a pulmonologist for nonsleep-related causes or arranging home oxygen for you.