Pulmonary Medicine

Expert Lung Health Diagnosis & Treatment

Wellstar’s pulmonologists help people with lung conditions manage their health to live, breathe and sleep better. Patients often see a pulmonologist when conventional approaches to managing these illnesses don’t work, or when managing their condition is more complex.

Some common conditions our pulmonologists diagnose and treat include COPD, asthma, pneumonia and other lung infections, pulmonary fibrosis, cough, lung cancer and sleep disorders.

Our pulmonary medicine specialists typically work as part of a team of specialists to care for patients, collaborating with primary care physicians, surgeons and respiratory therapists. Our patients have access to the latest and most innovative technology for diagnosis and treatment, including pulmonary function tests, medicine, therapy and minimally invasive procedures, such as bronchoscopy. We also have a special team of interventional pulmonologists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the airway, lung and pleura through advanced minimally invasive endoscopic and percutaneous procedures.

ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support – Gold Level

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center have received the Gold Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support. The ELSO Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) programs worldwide that distinguish themselves by having processes, procedures and systems in place that promote excellence and exceptional care in providing ECLS to their patients. It signifies to patients and families a commitment to exceptional patient care and demonstrates to the health care community high-quality standards, specialized equipment and supplies, defined patient protocols, and advanced education of all staff members.

Conditions we treat 

• Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic cough
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
• Hepatopulmonary syndrome
• Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
• Interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis and non-specific interstitial pneumonia including:
  • Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia 
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
  • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features
  • Connective tissue disease related ILD
  • Granulomatous lung disease (sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
  • Asbestosis
  • Other inhaled exposures
• Lung cancer including mesothelioma and pulmonary carcinoid tumors
• Lung nodules
• Mediastinal lymph node enlargement
• Nicotine dependence or tobacco use
• Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease 
• Pleural disease
• Pleural effusion or fluid around the lungs
• Pneumonia and other lung infections including tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases and fungal lung infections
• Pneumothorax or lung collapse
• Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
• Pulmonary hypertension including portopulmonary hypertension
• Respiratory failure requiring oxygen
• Sleep disorders