Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Reliant Medical Group specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. Some of the most common lung diseases are asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, and pneumonia.

Over 35 million Americans suffer from chronic lung disease. Lung cancer is the cause of one in seven deaths nationwide. At Reliant Medical Group, our doctors and nurses care for all types of lung problems as well as breathing issues like sleep apnea.

The latest advanced procedures for diagnosis and treatment

Our pulmonologists do specialized procedures. Bronchoscopy uses a flexible fiber-optic tube to look at air passages in the lungs and remove samples for testing. Some of the other procedures done by our pulmonologists include:

• Blood gas analysis
• Pulmonary function tests (PFT)
• Closed pleural biopsy
• Open pleural biopsy
• Spirometry (breathing test)
• Polysomnogram (sleep studies)
• Percutaneous tracheostomy

Our physicians also do advanced procedures like argon plasma coagulation, a technique that uses argon gas to remove tissue. Medical pleuroscopy is another less-invasive technique used to view into the lung. It can be performed under local anesthesia.

Special clinics and programs to assist patients

We have a number of clinics and programs to help patients take better care of their lung illnesses.

Our COPD Program offers easy access to doctors and nurses, a coordinated treatment plan, support, and information on COPD.

Our Sleep Apnea Clinic gives rapid diagnosis through our Sleep Lab, as well as effective ways to heal this common condition.

Our Asthma Clinic offers treatment and educates patients as well as gives follow-up care to help them take care of their asthma.

A full range of services, including in-hospital and rehab

Our pulmonologists also help with important care for seriously ill patients. They spend a lot of their time caring for patients in either Medical ICUs or Surgical ICUs at Saint Vincent Hospital. Reliant Medical Group also runs a Pulmonary Care Unit to give in-hospital care to patients who are more stable. We refer our patients in rehab for lung problems to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Parkview Rehab and Fairlawn Hospital in Worcester. Reliant Medical Group pulmonologists are also able to see patients at our offices in Leominster, Milford, and Worcester Medical Center.

Personalized care for lung cancer patients

Reliant Medical Group doctors also take part in the Lung Cancer Center at Saint Vincent Hospital. Patients who may have lung cancer or who have been newly diagnosed with lung cancer can call a special phone number for consultation. They are then sent to the right doctor for care. Each patient’s care is overseen by a team of departments. These departments include pulmonary, oncology, thoracic surgery, and radiation oncology. This way we can offer the best possible outcome for patients’ illnesses.

Key research studies

Pulmonology at Reliant Medical Group does research to learn more about the different diseases that affect the breathing system. They have researched pediatric asthma, adult-onset asthma, and COPD, as well as other important studies.