The Division of Pediatric Pulmonology is expanding to meet the needs of an increasing number of children with severe respiratory problems. The new services build on UCLA’s goal of improving patients’ lives and their long-term outcomes. With the addition of another physician earlier this year, the division now has three full-time pediatric pulmonologists who provide comprehensive consultation, diagnosis and treatment for such disorders as asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, Valley fever, recurrent cough or wheezing, apnea and chronic lung disease. New programs offer ventilators to patients who need treatment at home and those with chronic lung disease who are dependent on oxygen, tracheostomy tubes or other breathing devices. The division offers a monthly specialized pulmonary clinic for these children.
Full range of resources
The division takes a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. In addition to pediatric pulmonologists, UCLA’s team includes a range of pediatric specialists as well as social workers, nurses, dietitians, lactation consultants and respiratory therapists who offer support, training and education to patients and their families.
A growing problem
UCLA is bolstering its pediatric pulmonary services in response to an increased population of children with respiratory problems such as asthma or apnea. As medicines and technology advance, more premature infants in intensive care units are surviving but are doing so often with chronic lung problems that cannot be handled by a general pediatrician. Such patients are best treated by pulmonologists specially trained in pediatrics, who are in short supply nationwide. UCLA is one of only a few hospitals in Southern California that has the resources to meet this challenge.
Future goals
UCLA is seeking to establish an accredited Cystic Fibrosis Center accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help meet the pressing demand, which is particularly acute in Southern California where there are few accredited centers. The foundation’s certification, which is expected within a year, would provide financial support for education and research, and allow UCLA to participate in clinical trials on new drugs and treatments that may hold promise for respiratory disorders. The Division of Pediatric Pulmonology also plans to establish a sleep lab as well as facilities to test pulmonary function in infants at UCLA.
Respiratory Problems on the Rise
With three full-time pediatric pulmonologists, UCLA is taking its Division of Pediatric Pulmonology to the next level.
“Respiratory issues are among most prevalent problems we see in children,” says Pornchai Tirakitsoontorn, M.D., the clinical director of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology. “Most pediatric pulmonary centers are straining to meet the demand. In response, UCLA is expanding its programs to serve patients who are in need of the best care.”
The Division of Pediatric Pulmonology combines a multidisciplinary approach, research support and state-of-the-art facilities. “We handle all types of pediatric pulmonary disorders,” says Dr. Tirakitsoontorn. “We have three full-time pediatric pulmonologists, so one of us is available around the clock. That’s very important for patients.”
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The Division of Pediatric Pulmonology is expanding to meet the needs of an increasing number of children with severe respiratory problems. The new services build on UCLA’s goal of improving patients’ lives and their long-term outcomes. With the addition of another physician earlier this year, the division now has three full-time pediatric pulmonologists who provide comprehensive consultation, diagnosis and treatment for such disorders as asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, Valley fever, recurrent cough or wheezing, apnea and chronic lung disease. New programs offer ventilators to patients who need treatment at home and those with chronic lung disease who are dependent on oxygen, tracheostomy tubes or other breathing devices. The division offers a monthly specialized pulmonary clinic for these children.
