Spirometry Myths

Spirometry Myths vs. Facts

Myth One: You don’t see enough patients to justify investing in a spirometer 

The average Primary Care Physician (PCP) likely sees 10-20 patients per week with indications for a spirometry test. Based on Medicare reimbursement for a simple FVC test, the ROI on a $1295 spirometer is as quick as 2 weeks. Referring all your spirometry patients to a specialist could cost you and your patients more time and money. Use our ROI Calculator to see how financially justifiable spirometry is for your practice.

Myth Two: Your office is too busy to add spirometry

This is where buying the right spirometer is extremely important. We know your office is busy, that’s why we designed the easiest spirometry system available. With the right spirometer, the right training and the right support, you or your staff can easily test your patients in minutes without interrupting your patient flow.

Myth Three: Peak Flow Meters (PFM’s) can be used in place of spirometers

PFM’s (electronic or mechanical) are used by patients to monitor themselves once they have been diagnosed with asthma. PFM’s are not suitable for diagnosing airway obstruction, spirometers are. PFM’s only measure peak expiratory flow rate, a parameter that is not appropriate for the diagnosis of asthma or COPD. See the NIH Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma – Expert Panel Report … “Peak flow meters are for monitoring, not as diagnostic tools.” Furthermore, there is no reimbursement for peak flow testing by a healthcare professional. Why perform a peak flow test when with similar effort you can acquire more useful information and get reimbursed with spirometry?

Myth Four: Spirometry results are difficult to interpret

If you are already interpreting ECG results, you will likely find interpreting spirometry relatively easy. Jones spirometers provide both graphic and numeric data as well as an interpretation to help guide your diagnosis and management decisions. The objective test data that spirometry provides combined with subjective (history) patient data helps to ensure an accurate diagnosis, determine the level of disease severity, and guide treatment (per the NIH Guidelines for Asthma, GOLD Guidelines for COPD). Our exclusive Easy Interpretation Guide offers the most comprehensive and simplistic means of spirometry interpretation available! It takes the guesswork out of spirometry interpretation and helps guide disease classification and treatment.

Actual Jones Customer