Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease caused by damage to the lungs over a long period of time, usually due to smoking. Symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath, and because it takes many years to see symptoms, COPD occurs most often in people over 60 and gets worse over time.
A multidisciplinary program for patients with COPD, providing a combination of ongoing medical management, opportunity to enroll in clinical trials, and evaluation for lung reduction surgery or lung transplantation. The program educates patients with COPD and their families about the illness and teaches appropriate aspects of respiratory care, including inhaler use, oxygen therapy and equipment use, energy conservation, and nutrition.
Consultation and treatment is offered for patients with general pulmonary conditions such as cough, dyspnea, lung nodules, recurrent pneumonia, and obstructive sleep apnea. The center is equipped with the most advanced technology for pulmonary function testing, lung biopsies, CT and PET scans, and MRIs.