The MSU Pediatric Pulmonology Allergy and Clinical Immunology Clinic and Cystic Fibrosis Center pulmonary function laboratories will be reopening next week. We will be following European Respiratory Society Guidelines to ensure the testing will be safe for both our patients in our clinical staff. Some of the precautions being taken are spacing out of the time between tests so there will be adequate time for air turnover and deep cleaning between patients, enhanced personal protective equipment precautions for our staff, closing of the door of the pulmonary function box to ensure minimal aerosolization during the procedure. The laboratory will initially only be open for spirometry as more complicated testing carries and increased risk of aerosolization.  The pulmonary function lab will remain open while the prevalence of the virus remains reasonably low in our community.

The reopening of the pulmonary function labs offers us the opportunity to begin to see our patients with cystic fibrosis in our clinic again. We will likely be moving forward with a mixture of in-person and telehealth visits until the pandemic is behind us. We ask for your patience and understanding while we try to maneuver in these difficult times and please know that any decision we make will be prioritizing the health and safety of our patients.

Below is an example of our current process.

Ryan Thomas, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics 

Director, MSU Cystic Fibrosis Center

Department of Pediatrics and Human Development

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine