Pulmonology

Shirley Gilotti RN, MSN, and her Pulmonary Rehab Maintenance Class with Carrie Elliot assisting.

Pulmonology is the sub-specialty of internal medicine concerned with diseases of the lungs and bronchial tubes. Breathing problems or discomfort are caused by many conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other lung diseases and heart disease. We support the prevention and self-management of these chronic conditions. Our goal is to provide members with quality medical care through education and personalized health management.

Our teams of trained specialists include: pulmonologists, your primary care physician, respiratory therapists, allergists, registered nurses, clinical health educators, pharmacists, and clinical support staff.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease where the lung airway becomes inflamed, begins to swell, and causes difficulty breathing. Individuals with asthma experience difficulty breathing due to allergy, exercise, or other environmental factors or triggers. Asthma affects nearly 20 million Americans (American Lung Association, April 2004).

Our Asthma Program:

Level I: Self-Referral, No Co-Pay

The Breathe Easier Asthma Class offers members the opportunity to:

• Learn how other people with asthma cope with their condition
• Learn how to improve self-management skills for prevention, trigger identification, environmental control measures, and recognize acute asthma episodes
• Discuss medications and how to use inhalers, AeroChambers ® (spacers), and Peak Flow Meters

Be sure to bring the Peak Flow Meter, metered dose inhaler, and AeroChamber ® to the class. Adult family and friends are welcome.

Level II: Requires A Physician Referral

The goal of the Asthma Care Management Program is to help patients prevent, control, and treat asthma symptoms. With effective self-management skills, patients are able to return for routine care in primary care.

To enter this program, patients must be non-smokers, be 18-65 years of age, and have one of the following requirements:

• Uncontrolled asthma
• Recent asthma-related ER visit/hospital admission

What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition which prevents the lungs from functioning properly. The airways in the lungs become obstructed. Pulmonary obstructive diseases include: chronic bronchitis (damaged lungs produce excess mucous), emphysema (lung passages lose their flexibility to push air out), and chronic asthma (airway passages remain inflamed and constricted). A patient with COPD may experience coughing, increased mucous in the airways, shortness of breath, and wheezing. A major cause of COPD is smoking.

The goal of the COPD Case Management Program is to help patients better manage COPD through education, medication adjustment, and case management. This is achieved by creating a personal plan, teaching patients how to breathe and exercise properly, monitoring medication, and giving patients the opportunity to participate in our 12-session, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Classes.

Our Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Program:

Level I: Self-Referral, No Co-Pay

The one-session, COPD Basics Class is open to all COPD patients and offers members the opportunity to:

• Learn about the COPD disease process
• Learn how to seek early intervention to prevent complications
• Learn techniques for better breathing and relaxation
• Learn how and when to use an inhaler and AeroChamber
• Review medications
• Learn the benefits of exercise

Level II: Requires A Physician Referral

To enter this program, patients must be referred by a Pulmonologist and able to:

• Participate in an exercise program (treadmill, stationary bike, free weights, and arm ergometer)
• Walk/stand without human assistance for 20 minutes (using a walker is OK)
• Understand and follow simple instructions
Patients must not smoke and meet one of the following requirements:
• Forced expiratory volume less than 60%
• A recent COPD-related ER/hospital visit

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  Using Inhalers and Peak Flow Meters

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  Asthma Self-Care Class

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  COPD Basics Class

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  Advanced Health Care Directives

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  Pulmonary Function Testing

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  Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

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  Sleep Study Monitoring

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  Sleep Apnea Class

What You Can Do?

Follow "Best Practices" (high-quality treatment recommendations) to help manage:

• Asthma symptoms:
  • Use your long-acting inhaler (i.e., QVAR ® , Flovent ® ) even if you are feeling fine
  • Use your short-acting inhaler (albuterol) only as needed for asthma symptoms
  • Let your physician know if you are using your albuterol more than twice a week for asthma symptoms not related to exercise.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:
  • Quit smoking

As a Kaiser Permanente member, you may:

• Enroll in our no co-pay Breathe Easier Asthma Class
• Enroll in our single-session no co-pay COPD Basics Class
• Enroll in our Smoking Cessation Class
• Learn how to manage asthma with a care manager to improve your quality of life (Level II - Asthma Care Management Program).
• Work with a care manager who will help you improve self-management skills (Level II - COPD Case Management Program)
• Be asked to participate in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program facilitated by respiratory therapists and nurses
• Contact your primary care physician to discuss if the Level II Asthma Care Management Program; Level II Pulmonary Rehabilitation; or COPD Case Management Program is right for you.

General Information:

• Guide For Asthma Management
• Basic Facts About Asthma
• Asthma in Children
• Eating Well For Those With COPD
• Exercising For Those With COPD
• More About COPD
• Quit Smoking

Resources

• American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI)
• American Lung Association (Asthma Management)
• My Asthma
• National Jewish Medical and Research Center