Pulmonary Medicine and Rehabilitation
Diseases of the Respiratory Tract
Pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with diseases of the respiratory tract. Our office specializes in the following disease states:
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Asthma
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Interstitial lung disease
- Sleep-disordered breathing (e.g. obstructive sleep apnea)
- Cough
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary vasculitis
Disease-specific treatments:
Asthma
- Dupixent
- Nucala (eosinophilic asthma)
- Tezspire
- Xolair (allergic asthma)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Dupixent
- Nucala (eosinophilic asthma)
Other
- Alpha 1 swabs and infusions (Glassia or Prolastin)
- CPAP and BIPAP Management
- Inhaler and nebulizer education
- Pulmonary fibrosis oral therapy
- Zepbound (OSA: obstructive sleep apnea)
Procedures:
- Bronchoscopy
- Endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsies (lymph nodes, masses)
- Navigational bronchoscopy
- Thoracentesis
- Chest tube placement
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
The Breathing Easy Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Meadville Medical Center is dedicated to helping you breathe better while improving your overall health and strength. You will learn more about your existing condition while gaining the skills necessary to manage it. Early referrals have been shown to improve health outcomes, reduce hospitalization, and increase patient confidence in managing their disease.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is run by our team of medical professionals, including Dr. Andra Fee, DO and Meghan King, RRT. The program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Program Schedule
This nine-week program consists of two sessions per week (therefore, eighteen total classes). Classes meet every Tuesday and Thursday during the following times, availability will depend on current enrollment numbers:
- 8:30 to 10 a.m.
- 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Who Benefits from Pulmonary Rehabilitation?
People who experience difficulty breathing due to a variety of lung diseases and conditions will benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation.
Obstructive disease
- COPD (including Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)
- Persistent asthma
- Diffuse bronchiectasis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Bronchiolitis
Restrictive disease
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Interstitial Fibrosis
- Occupational or environmental lung disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Connective tissue disease
- Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
- Lymphangiomyomatosis
- ARDS survivor
- Chest wall diseases
- Kyphoscoliosis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Post TB syndrome
Other conditions
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Before and after thoracic and abdominal surgery
- Before and after lung transplantation
- Before and after lung volume reduction surgery
- Ventilator dependency
- Obesity-related respiratory disease
Patient Referrals and Contact Information
Referrals to our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program are accepted via a pulmonary rehabilitation order placed by a physician. Insurance verification and scheduling assistance are available. Please reach out by phone at: 814-333-5150 or fax: 814-373-2164.
Goals and Benefits
It is our goal to assist you in being able to do all of the things you would like to do without having the shortness of breath. This will be accomplished through a combination of education and exercise.
Education Topics
- Breathing techniques and lung function
- Nutrition and diet
- Dealing with change and loss
- Stress and relaxation techniques
Other Program Components
- Oxygen therapy assessment and education
- Medication and inhaler technique review
- Symptom recognition and exacerbation prevention
- Smoking cessation support (when applicable)
Exercise Sessions
Through the use of upper and lower body equipment, we are able to improve each person’s exercise capacity and ability to perform normal activities of daily living and decrease the feeling of breathlessness. Exercise sessions are individually tailored depending on the results of a pulmonary function test that is completed prior to entering the program. The program uses several exercise options including:
- Treadmills
- Stationary bicycles
- Arm ergometers
- Resistance training
- Stretching to improve endurance
Throughout the sessions, our staff will supervise your progress and make adjustments to the exercise program as needed.
Meadville Medical Center, through Pulmonary Associates of Meadville, is proud to offer The Galaxy System™ from Noah Medical, the first and only image-integrated robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (iiRAB) system, designed to improve tool-in-lesion accuracy and procedural efficiency.
Meadville Medical Center Provider-based Clinic
How We Bill for Our Services
Visits to a provider-based clinic result in two charges to the patient: one charge for hospital services (the facility fee), and one charge for physician/professional services
More information about Meadville Medical Center’s provider-based clinics, including a complete listing and contact information for billing and financial assistance, can be found on our FAQ page.
Outpatient Pulmonology Location
Inpatient Pulmonology Providers
Pulmonology News
