Our Programs and Services Pulmonology

Pulmonology

Connect with our board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners in pulmonology to discuss and treat ailments of the lungs and respiratory systems, such as asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, complicated chest infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases including emphysema. Our doctors specialize in the respiratory system. They understand how the lungs work. They are also experts in how the airways, muscles, and blood vessels function together so you can breathe easily. Our Pulmonologist is available for on-site visits to senior facilities for exams as well as treatment for pre-cancers, and chronic conditions through mobile or telemedicine program. Pulmonology or pneumology is a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract. It is also known as respiratory, respiratory medicine, or chest medicine in some countries and areas. Pulmonology is considered a branch of internal medicine and is related to intensive care medicine.

we offer on-site care visit pulmonology specialty care services

Continuum Healthcare Network is delivering On-Site Clinics within senior communities is the more needed help and essential—as baby boomers age. What’s more, recent studies show that offering primary care and specialty care on-site in a residential setting reduces hospital readmissions, as well as extends the life expectancy.The Continuum Healthcare Network is offering a new trend in health care services by providing two important services: Providing Onsite- Specialty Care for Residents, and Skilled Care Services and Personal Care at Home. Both our Medical Programs offer numerous benefits for senior residents. There are many advantages your residents will enjoy. These two particular services offer incredible value and undeniable peace of mind for your residents AND their families:
 *Access to primary and specialty care services without leaving the community. *Unparalleled value of nighttime attention and care during health-related episodes.

pulmonology

TELEMEDICINE APPOINTMENTS

Continuum Healthcare Network is happy to offer telemedicine appointments so you can visit with our medical team and specialty care physicians from the privacy and comfort of home or community. You can now receive one-on-one customized care, treatment plans, and custom medications shipped to your home from your computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
If you live in a rural area that doesn't have access to the internet, specialty care physicians, limited transportation, and the technology to connect to telemedicine will provide you the necessary equipment to access the healthcare you need.
If you need assistance please feel free to call us at our main line at 240-650-7250.

Pulmonology Specialty Services

On-Site Visit Care and Telemedicine Services

Our Pulmonologist Commitments
Pulmonary care is caring for and treating the lungs and respiratory (or breathing) system. This can include many kinds of lung conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and others. The most common infections among nursing home residents include:
  • Respiratory infections.
  • Urinary tract infections.
  • Soft-tissue infections.
  • Skin infections.
  • Influenza.
  • Gastroenteritis. When patients have a lung disease like asthma or COPD, it's hard to breathe easy. They need providers who give your patient's respiratory condition the serious care and attention it deserves. Chronic lung disease is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. When your patients suffer from lung discomfort or a condition like COPD, everyday activities can feel difficult or even impossible. Pulmonary specialists in the Continuum Healthcare network provide comprehensive care to improve your patients' health and quality of life. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affects millions of Americans. It’s the third leading cause of death in the United States, yet it’s also highly treatable and preventable.
In the Continuum Healthcare Network, pulmonary specialists have deep expertise in treating acute and chronic lung conditions, including asthma, bronchiolitis, emphysema, and pneumonia. We also offer treatment for interstitial lung disease, advanced COPD, pulmonary nodules, and pulmonary hypertension. We provide comprehensive pulmonary care from diagnosis and treatment to pulmonary rehabilitation.
If you are experiencing symptoms such as chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and recurrent infections, we provide a full suite of tests and imaging technologies to make an accurate diagnosis. Interventional pulmonologists offer the latest in treatment options and therapies, and they collaborate with specialists in other areas – including radiology and oncology – to create a customized treatment plan that best meets your health needs. We also offer many educational classes and support groups, from smoking cessation programs to stress management classes, that can complement your treatment plan and help you improve your health. Programs We Offer: Cancer Screening ProgramLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. People with lung cancer often don’t experience symptoms until cancer has reached an advanced stage when it is most difficult to treat. For smokers and for those at the highest risk, Advocate hospitals provide screenings to detect lung cancer early when treatment is most effective. Medicare and most insurance plans cover the screening for those eligible.
  • Pulmonary Heart Disease Program
Advocate’s cardiac and pulmonary specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating PHD, and a related condition, pulmonary hypertension. Also, pulmonary rehabilitation following heart or lung surgery is crucial to successful recovery; our physicians are ready to help. Lung Transplant ProgramIf you have exhausted all treatment options for serious pulmonary conditions, lung transplantation could prolong and dramatically improve the quality of your life. Often, after lung transplantation, you can return to work or school and resume activities like travel and sports.
  • Ongoing Support
Advocate's pulmonologists work closely with many health care support services you may need, to coordinate ongoing care and speed recovery. We can also connect you with local programs, including smoking cessation groups and fitness classes, to help you maintain healthy lungs. If your primary care doctor suggests you may have a lung or breathing ailment such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD, you may be referred to a pulmonologist or a doctor who specializes in lung disorders. If you’ve never been to see a pulmonologist before, it would be wise to prepare yourself for the initial appointment with a list of questions to ask. By arming yourself with the best possible arsenal to obtain information, you will be better equipped to handle any diagnosis. Here are some questions to ask your doctor during your visit. What Should You Ask Your Pulmonologist?1. Can you explain the tests you are running?Understanding the tests that will be run will help you to better prepare for them.2. What’s my Diagnosis?This may seem like something you don’t even need to ask, but to be certain, I would3. What is likely causing or worsening my symptoms?Asking this question ensures that if there are certain behaviors that are causing a flare-up of your symptoms, you can deviate or avoid these behaviors.4. What is an appropriate level of physical activity for my diagnosis?Be ready to talk to your pulmonary specialist about your diet or exercise regimen and any challenges you may experience starting one.5. How often should I be screened for changes?This is an important question to ask regarding maintenance for your condition. Knowing when to follow up with your doctor is an important part of maintaining lung health and keeping any chronic pulmonary diseases under control. 6. Are you prescribing me anything for the symptoms?It’s important to understand any medications you will be prescribed as well as any side effects of the medication.7. Are there things I can do to manage this (chronic) condition?Ask what types of habits and activities you can do on your own time to keep your condition under control or even lessen some of the symptoms of your illness.8. Are there any additional restrictions for my diagnosis?Be sure to ask and understand any restrictions that your illness may pose to your current regimen.9. What should I do if my symptoms increase?Ask your doctor when to contact them when symptoms worsen to avoid an unnecessary trip to the ER.
Pulmonologist Services
Conditions Treated
  • Asthma
Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.Bronchial Thermoplasty is an FDA-approved bronchoscopic procedure for the treatment of severe persistent asthma.
  • Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a respiratory disease where the mucus membranes lining the lungs’ bronchial passages become inflamed.Symptoms include coughing spells, often accompanied by phlegm and breathlessness. There are two forms of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis typically lasts from one to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis lasts at least 3 months of the year for two years in a row. Asthmatics also can develop a form of bronchitis, known as asthmatic bronchitis.
  • Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long-term cough with mucus.Emphysema, which involves the destruction of the lungs over time.Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions.
  • Lung Cancer
Lung cancer starts when abnormal cells grow out of control in the lungs. Lung cancer and smoking often, but not always, go hand in hand. There usually are no signs or early symptoms of lung cancer. As lung cancer stages advance, lung cancer symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and bloody mucus. Treatment for lung cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.
  • Lung Nodules
Lung nodules are quite common and are found on 1 in 500 chest x-rays, and 1 in 100 CT scans of the chest. A lung nodule is defined as a “spot” on the lung that is 3 cm (about 1 1/2 inches) in diameter or less. Most lung nodules are noncancerous (benign). However, some lung nodules may be cancerous – either early-stage lung cancer or metastatic cancer that has spread to the lungs from another site in the body.It is important to work with your doctor to determine the cause. When lung cancer is caught early and is still small, there is a greater chance that it can be cured.
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs. It is also described as “scarring of the lung”. While pulmonary fibrosis may be a secondary effect of other diseases, it can also appear without any known cause. It causes the lungs to become scarred and stiffened. This stiffening may make it increasingly difficult to breathe.
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups.RSV is the most common germ that causes lung and airway infections in infants and young children. Most infants have had this infection by age 2. Outbreaks of RSV infections most often begin in the fall and run into the spring.
  • Sinusitis
Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinuses that occurs with a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucus membranes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Usually, mucus is able to drain out and the air is able to circulate.When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily. The classic symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults usually follow a cold that does not improve or one that worsens after 5 to 7 days of symptoms. We offer a full range of lung treatments and programs, from prevention and diagnostics to lung cancer care and transplants. To schedule an appointment, call 240-650-7250.
  • Conditions We Treat
Our pulmonologists treat We aim to improve respiration for people suffering from these and other lung conditions:
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Lung cancer
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Pulmonary heart disease
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Emphysema
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
Advanced Services & TreatmentsSupported by the newest technologies, we specialize in advanced treatments and therapies to prevent, evaluate, and treat lung conditions. Advocate's lung transplant program provides comprehensive, personalized care for patients with advanced lung disease. Our pulmonologists, licensed respiratory therapists, EEG and EKG technicians, and polysomnographers are equipped to care for all patients, from premature infants to the elderly. Diagnostic procedures:
  • Pulmonary (lung) function testing
  • Indirect calorimetry
  • Arterial blood gas sampling and analysis
  • Pulmonary exercise testing
  • Pulse oximetry
  • Lung cancer screening
Treatments and therapies:
  • Adult and infant ventilator care
  • Bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma
  • Bronchodilator therapy
  • Chest physiotherapy
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Lung transplant program
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Mediastinal resections (removal of chest tumors)
  • Chest wall procedures
  • Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery
  • Advanced airway procedures (interventional bronchoscopy)
  • Chest tissue biopsies
  • Interventional pulmonology
Contacts
Continuum Healthcare Network Healthcare Resources and Telemedicine Services
Hours
Monday: 7:00am – 7:00pmTuesday: 7:00am – 7:00pmWednesday: 7:00am – 7:00pmThursday: 7:00am – 7:00pmFriday: 7:00am – 7:00pm Saturday: 8:00am-5:00pmSunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Follow Us
Book Now