Pulmonology

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose lung cancer, infections and other diseases. EBUS allows physicians to obtain tissue or fluid samples from the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes in the chest without surgery. The samples can be used to diagnose and stage lung cancer, detect infections and identify inflammatory diseases.

Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programs help people with chronic lung conditions learn to manage their disease so they may live and breathe easier.

Fort Sanders Pulmonary Wellness & Rehabilitation, developed in 1983, was the first pulmonary rehab program in Knox County. Our program is also one of the first to receive national certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for consistent clinical outcomes for lung patients.

The American Thoracic Society identifies pulmonary rehabilitation as part of the standard of care for people who have significant lung symptoms. Our nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians, counselors and pharmacist work as a team, in conjunction with physicians to provide an intensive lifestyle modification approach for lung disease management.

Fort Sanders Pulmonary Wellness & Rehabilitation is an approved satellite program for the National Emphysema Treatment Trial. The pulmonary outreach and education program is funded in part by a grant to the Fort Sanders Foundation from the Will Rogers Institute.

Basic Information

You are eligible for the Pulmonary Wellness and Rehabilitation Program if you have lung disease and are referred by your physician. One of our nurse case managers will talk with you about your exercise and health goals. Each session lasts for two hours with one hour for medically-supervised and monitored exercise and one hour for group education. Spouses are welcome to attend education classes and observe exercise sessions at no charge.

Most insurance companies cover pulmonary rehabilitation services. Our nurse case managers will help with insurance approval and billing concerns. Our nurse case managers will also send reports to your referring physician and your family doctor at the end of the program. Call (865) 331-1250 to schedule an intake appointment.

Location

Fort Sanders Professional Building
501 20th Street, Suite 110
Knoxville, TN

Phone: 865-331-1250
Fax: 865-331-1559

To schedule a pulmonary function test, please call 865-374-4000.

Coordinated Care by a Multidisciplinary Team

Low-dose CT scanning has shown to be effective for lung cancer screening; however, the majority of lung nodules are found incidentally on unrelated x-ray or CT scans.

Knowing this, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center has created a formal program for the effective evaluation and management of lung nodules. The goal of our program is to proactively monitor incidental lung nodules and assist with follow-up testing if needed.

Our Goals

• Catch lung cancer early when it is most treatable
• Deliver timely and exceptional care
• Prevent patients from undergoing unnecessary surgery

Keeping a Watchful Eye

While most lung nodules are not cancerous, monitoring these incidental findings can help determine if additional testing is needed to possibly catch cancer early. Studies have shown that early detection of lung cancer along with timely initiation of treatment greatly impacts patient outcomes.

What Patients and their Physicians can Expect

A patient at Fort Sanders Regional may be diagnosed with a lung nodule while in the emergency department, as an inpatient, or through a high-risk lung nodule. Following the diagnosis, you can expect the following:

1. The imaging report will be sent to the Lung Nodule Program
2. Collaborative care will begin between the primary care physician and the Lung Nodule Program team
3. Patients whose nodules are determined to be suspicious will be scheduled promptly to see a pulmonologist for further workup
4. If lung cancer treatment is needed, our team will connect the patient to cancer treatment at Thompson Cancer Survival Center
5. We will work with the patient to develop a personalized care plan best fit for them
6. Our highly skilled interventional pulmonologists will perform innovative robot-assisted procedures for greater diagnostic accuracy
7. Smoking cessation education tools

Contact:

Tara Novosel
865-331-1364
[email protected]

Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB) procedures are a minimally invasive approach that accesses difficult-to-reach areas of the lung, aiding in the detection and diagnosis of lung disease. Using GPS-like technology, the surgeon steers a catheter through the patient’s natural airways to reach lesions in the deepest areas of the lungs. This revolutionary technology can detect hard-to-reach lung tumors that can be difficult to find with traditional techniques.