Pulmonologists, critical care specialists and allergists in the Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine have unparalleled expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases encompassed by their specialty. This expertise and experience attracts patients from all over the world who seek a definitive diagnosis or state-of-the-art treatment, often for a rare or complex disorder.
In 2002, the Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine provided nearly 39,000 outpatient visits and cared for almost 1,100 hospital patients.
In addition to having 11 fellows training in the department, the staff hosted six visiting international scholars from India, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Singapore and Brazil, who came to The Cleveland Clinic for advanced clinical and research experience. The department is particularly proud of a joint fellowship offered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1998, which provides 1.5 years of clinical training in pulmonary and critical care medicine followed by 2 to 3 years of research at the NIH.
The facilities to support the staff, training program and research are superb. The department, which is located on the 9th floor of the Crile Building, contains offices and exam rooms for the pulmonary, allergy and critical care staff , as well as a bronchoscopy suite, pulmonary function lab that includes cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and a procedure room for thoracentesis. A second bronchoscopy suite is located in the hospital for the treatment of hospitalized patients. The Allergy and Clinical Immunology section is well situated in the W.O. Walker Building.
For the convenience of patients throughout Northern Ohio, Cleveland Clinic pulmonologists and allergists also provide care on a limited basis at the Beachwood, Westlake and Independence Family Health Centers. Staff at these centers and other Cleveland Clinic locations will grow in response to patient demand.
Laboratories for staff members conducting basic science research are located in the Lerner Research Institute, a brand-new, integrated research community that is one of the largest private research facilities in the country. The Lerner Research Institute was constructed as a visible representation of The Cleveland Clinic's commitment to furthering medical knowledge, and easily meets the needs of one of the world's premier research and education institutions.
