Exceptional Pulmonary Care at UCLA Health: A Comprehensive Guide

UCLA Health stands as a beacon of excellence in pulmonology and critical care, offering a wide array of specialized services. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UCLA Health among the best in the nation for pulmonology, reflecting its commitment to exceptional care and innovative treatments for respiratory conditions.

Why Choose UCLA Health for Pulmonology and Critical Care?

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UCLA Health is renowned for its leadership in providing exceptional care. Several factors contribute to its distinguished reputation:

Subspecialty Expertise: UCLA Health houses numerous specialized programs and centers with niche services, ensuring patients receive targeted care for their specific conditions.
World-Class Transplant Program: The Lung Transplant Program is among the best and most experienced in the country, consistently leading the way in researching and implementing new techniques.
Excellence in Sleep Medicine: UCLA Health employs state-of-the-art techniques to diagnose and treat all types of sleep disorders, offering comprehensive sleep testing services at multiple outpatient locations.

Comprehensive Pulmonary and Critical Care Services

UCLA Health's pulmonary doctors and critical care specialists offer a comprehensive range of subspecialty services, with many niche programs providing targeted care.

Adult Asthma Program

Asthma, a prevalent chronic disease affecting millions of adults, receives advanced and comprehensive care through the Adult Asthma Program. A multispecialty team provides services such as:

Pulmonary function testing
Asthma management education
Specialized procedures
Access to leading-edge medication options
Holistic therapies

Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program

Recognizing the increasing number of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), UCLA Health created this program to facilitate smooth transitions from pediatric to adult care. The program's exceptional quality of care has earned accreditation from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

CF often requires care from multiple specialists, and this program brings all team members together under one roof, ensuring patients can easily access every specialty area they need.

Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

In partnership with the rehabilitation services team, UCLA Health provides comprehensive cardiac and pulmonary (lung) rehab. Multidisciplinary treatment plans incorporate the expertise of:

Respiratory therapists
Exercise physiologists
Certified exercise specialists
Registered dietitians

Center for Iron Disorders

Research at the Center for Iron Disorders focuses on understanding the causes of iron disorders and improving diagnostic and treatment methods. Recent studies have explored:

How the intestines absorb iron
The consequences of iron deficiency
The role of iron during pregnancy

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Program

UCLA Health is recognized as a national COPD referral center, a testament to the expertise in treating lung diseases that block airflow and cause breathing difficulties. The program utilizes ultramodern treatment options and works closely with primary care providers to coordinate efficient care plans. The COPD team includes:

Pulmonologists
Thoracic surgeons
Respiratory therapists
Researchers

Critical Care Medicine

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UCLA Health also includes experts in critical care. Programs in critical care medicine include:

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Critical Care Center: This center's experts span the spectrum of medical specialties, focusing on enhancing research, education, and treatment for critically ill patients.
Medical Intensive Care Unit: This 24-bed unit provides all the resources and equipment necessary to manage critical and life-threatening illnesses. The multidisciplinary team includes board-certified physicians in pulmonary and critical care medicine, as well as critical care-trained nurses.
3 Wishes Program: This program aims to prioritize patient dignity, celebrate lives, and improve the end-of-life period for patients and their families by implementing their last wishes.

Division of Allergy and Immunology

UCLA Health's allergy specialists offer various diagnostic and treatment options for identifying and managing allergies. Techniques used include:

Drug desensitization
Food challenges
Drug challenges

These techniques help identify symptom causes and determine the most effective treatment.

Interstitial Lung Disease Center

The Interstitial Lung Disease Center is designated as a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center site, signifying its comprehensive and leading-edge care for interstitial lung disease (ILD), which involves lung tissue scarring. Patients come from all over the country to receive exceptional services.

Connective Tissue Disease - Interstitial Lung Disease (CTD-ILD) Program

Some patients with ILD may also experience symptoms of a connective tissue disease. Connective tissues hold the body structures together, and when ILD and CTD coexist, they can cause severe inflammation and internal scarring.

The CTD-ILD Program brings together a team of pulmonologists, rheumatologists, radiologists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive treatment. The program aims to provide patients with an efficient and smooth visit, allowing them to see all necessary specialists and complete relevant diagnostic tests in one visit.

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Lung Cancer Program

UCLA Health has a long-standing history of expertise in lung cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute appointed the program as one of the original sites to be part of the Lung Cancer Study Group in 1977. Since then, UCLA Health has continued to lead the way in lung cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and research.

Lung Transplant Program

The Lung Transplant Program is one of the most successful in the country. Since 1988, UCLA Health has performed over 1,000 successful lung transplants and consistently ranks among the top programs nationally by volume. It is the busiest lung transplant center in the Western United States and the second busiest in the country.

Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program

UCLA Health is internationally renowned for its expertise in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of pulmonary vascular diseases, which affect the lungs and heart. The program treats all types of diseases affecting these organs, including:

Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure between the heart and lungs)

Sleep Disorders Center

For over 50 years, the Sleep Disorders Center has maintained continuous accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It serves as a medical referral facility for sleep disorders, recognized by other specialists as an expert in the field. The center diagnoses and treats sleep disorders and educates other doctors and community members about sleep-related conditions.

Conditions Treated

UCLA Health's pulmonologists and critical care specialists treat a wide range of respiratory conditions and critical illnesses, including:

Asthma: Inflamed, narrow airways that lead to breathing difficulties.
COPD: Obstructed (blocked) airflow that causes shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing.
Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system.
Lung cancer: When irregular cells multiply uncontrollably in the lungs.
Pulmonary embolism: Artery blockage in the lungs, usually caused by a blood clot.
Pulmonary fibrosis: Scarring in the lungs that can lead to thick, stiff lung tissue.
Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries that connect to the lungs.

Pulmonary Tests and Procedures

UCLA Health offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures associated with pulmonary and critical care medicine:

Arterial line placement: Inserting a catheter into an artery to continuously monitor blood pressure.
Bronchoscopy: Using a small, lighted instrument with a camera to view the airways and lungs.
Chest tube placement: Inserting a tube between the inner and outer linings of the chest to drain fluid, blood, or air.
Endotracheal intubation: Placing a tube into the trachea (windpipe) to open the airways and allow breathing, often performed in emergencies.
Pulmonary artery catheterization: Placing a catheter into the pulmonary artery to diagnose heart and lung conditions.
Spirometry: A pulmonary function test measuring the amount of air exhaled and how easily it can be done.
Thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy: Inserting a needle into the pleural space and removing a small tissue sample for diagnostic testing.

Meet the Team

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is comprised of a team of experts dedicated to setting and raising the standards in pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. The team includes full-time faculty members in the Health Sciences Clinical Professor series.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Sites

UCLA Health is affiliated with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) as a Care Center Site. Other locations include:

ARIZONA
- St. Josephâs Hospital (Phoenix)
- Banner University Medical Center (Phoenix)
- University of Arizona (Tucson)
CALIFORNIA
- Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles)
- Center for Advanced Lung Disease at Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles)
- Loma Linda University (Loma Linda)
- Stanford Health Center (Palo Alto)
- University of California at Davis (Sacramento)
- University of California at Los Angeles (Los Angeles)
- University of California San Diego (San Diego)
- University of California at San Francisco (San Francisco)
COLORADO
- National Jewish Health (Denver)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Aurora)
CONNECTICUT
- Yale School of Medicine (New Haven)
FLORIDA
- Cleveland Clinic Florida (Weston)
- University of Florida (Gainesville)
- University of Miami (Miami)
- University of South Florida â Tampa General Hospital (Tampa)
GEORGIA
- Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta)
- Piedmont Healthcare (Atlanta)
ILLINOIS
- Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood)
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago)
- Rush University Medical Center (Chicago)
- University of Chicago (Chicago)
INDIANA
- Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis)
IOWA
- University of Iowa (Iowa City)
KANSAS
- The University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City)
KENTUCKY
- University of Kentucky Research Foundation (Lexington)
- University of Louisville School of Medicine (Louisville)
LOUISIANA
- Ochsner LSU Health (Shreveport)
- Tulane University School of Medicine (New Orleans)
MAINE
- CMA Center for Interstitial Lung Disease (South Portland)
MARYLAND
- Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore)
- University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore)
MASSACHUSETTS
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
MICHIGAN
- Corewell Health East (Royal Oak, MI)
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals (Grand Rapids)
- Henry Ford Health System (Detroit)
- University of Michigan Health System (Ann Arbor)
MINNESOTA
- University of Minnesota Medical Center (Minneapolis)
- Mayo Clinic (Rochester)
MISSOURI
- St. Lukeâs Hospital (Chesterfield)
- Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis)
NEBRASKA
- Creighton University (Omaha)
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha)
NEW HAMPSHIRE
- Dartmouth Health Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon)
NEW MEXICO
- University of New Mexico (Albuquerque)
NEW YORK
- Columbia University Medical Center (New York)
- New York University School of Medicine (New York)
- Stony Brook University Hospital (Stony Brook)
- University of Rochester Medical Center (Rochester)
- Weill-Cornell Medical Center (New York)
NORTH CAROLINA
- Duke University Medical Center (Durham)
- LeBauer Health Care at Cone Health (Greensboro)
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill)
OHIO
- Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland)
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus)
- University of Cincinnati Medical Center (Cincinnati)
OKLAHOMA
- OU Health (Oklahoma City)
OREGON
- The Oregon Clinic (Portland)
PENNSYLVANIA
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey)
- St. Luke's University Health Network (Fountain Hill)
- Temple Health (Philadelphia)
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia)
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
- University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
RHODE ISLAND
- Rhode Island Hospital (Providence)
SOUTH CAROLINA
- Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston)
SOUTH DAKOTA
- Avera Medical Group Pulmonary (Sioux Falls)
TENNESSEE
- Statcare Pulmonary Consultants (Knoxville)
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville)
TEXAS
- Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas)
- Houston Methodist Hospital (Houston)
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas)
- University of Texas Health Science Center (Houston)
- University of Texas Health Science Center (San Antonio)
UTAH
- University of Utah Health Care (Salt Lake City)
VERMONT
- The University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington)

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