What to Expect
Referral from Your Physician
Most patients are referred to our clinic when their doctor suspects a more complex lung or breathing disorder. After you’re referred, contact us as soon as possible to confirm your appointment.
If you have persistent pain, coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath, visit your primary care doctor. Your doctor can help you determine if a referral is needed.
Sudden chest pain and trouble breathing may be signs of a life-threatening issue — consider visiting the emergency department right away.
Your First Visit
For certain lung diseases (like lung cancer), timely diagnosis can have a huge impact on treatment and outcomes. That’s why we review your case as soon as you’re referred and prioritize your first visit based on urgency.
If we suspect cancer may be a diagnosis, our goal is to schedule your first visit within one week.
At your first visit to our clinic, you’ll meet with a lung specialist to go over your next steps. Your specialist will help you understand your suspected diagnosis, the tests you need and all treatment options.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In interventional pulmonology, minimally invasive procedures may be used to both diagnose and treat your lung condition. Minimally invasive procedures reduce damage to your body, allowing for shorter recovery times and faster relief from your pain.
If you need one of these procedures, it will usually be performed within a week after your initial visit.
- When you undergo a procedure for diagnosis, you’ll usually have an answer within one week.
- When you undergo a procedure for treatment, you’ll usually feel better right away.
Your lung specialist usually performs these procedures in our outpatient clinic. Our patients can often return home soon afterward.
Depending on your condition, though, we may need to call on additional specialists, like thoracic (chest) surgeons and cancer experts. All of our teams work closely to give you timely, effective care.
Follow-Up
Whether your condition is treated at our clinic or requires other specialties, we’re by your side the whole way. We regularly follow up with you to make sure you’ve received the appropriate care for your condition.
Take the Next Step
If your pain, coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath isn’t going away, visit your primary care doctor. Your doctor will help you determine if you need a referral for interventional pulmonology.
If you have a referral or already received a diagnosis, we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment today.