Components of Pulmonary Medicine
The physicians in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center care for kids with cystic fibrosis, asthma, congenital malformations of the lung, recurrent pneumonia, persistent coughing, pulmonary hemosiderosis, and immotile cilia syndrome. Close collaboration with the divisions of Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Pediatric Surgery, and Otolaryngology ensures the provision of comprehensive clinical care to patients and their families.
Faculty members are active in clinical studies and laboratory investigation of cystic fibrosis, basic mechanisms of inflammation, allergy, and other lung diseases. An interdisciplinary healthcare team emphasizes a family centered approach to patient care, responding to both physical and emotional needs. The faculty members provide individualized patient education program materials, nutrition counseling, and physical therapy. The Division of Pulmonary Medicine emphasizes close cooperation with community physicians, as well as the University of Cincinnati.
Medical Programs
Asthma Center
Airway Abnormalities (Bronchoscopy Center)
Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
Home Ventilator Care
Obstructive Sleep Apnea / Sleep Disorders
Rare Lung Disease (RLD)
Thoracic Insufficiency (Spine Center)
Respiratory Care - Pulmonary Function Testing
- Screening pulmonary funtion tests
- Complete pulmonary funtion tests
- Lung diffusion studies
- Maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure
- Complete interpretation of these tests by a pediatric pulmonologist within 24 hours
- Bronchial provocation testing
- Exercise testing
- Methacholine challenge
- Patient Education
Polysomnography (Sleep Study)
- Determine abnormal sleep patterns, airway obstruction, or apnea
- Overnight oximetry
Nursing Staff
- Pulmonary disease care and patient/family education and support
- Cystic fibrosis care and patient/family education and support
Social Work
The Pulmonary Medicine staff includes a full-time social worker who provides supportive counseling and anticipatory guidance for newly diagnosed cystic fibrosis families and chronic care patients with various pulmonary diagnoses. Some of the social worker's functions include:
- Screening for and facilitation of material resources and acquisition
- Referrals to appropriate community-based services
- Patient advocacy (patient educational needs, education of school personnel and parental support for patients with ongoing educational needs/issues)
- Facilitation of lung transplantation referrals
- Abuse and neglect screening
- Patient and family support during and through end of life issues
- Education about Hospice referrals, if desired by families
Nutrition
Services include:
- Nutrition assessment
- Nutrition education and counseling
