Allegheny Health Network Launches New Clinic for Advanced COPD

PITTSBURGH – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced the opening of a new specialized clinic dedicated to providing advanced care for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The AHN Advanced COPD Clinic offers cutting-edge therapies and a multidisciplinary approach to significantly improve the quality of life for patients with severe COPD.

COPD is a progressive lung disease that hinders airflow and causes breathing difficulties. It is primarily caused by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke and air pollution. COPD affects millions of Americans and stands as the third-leading cause of death globally.

Patients with advanced COPD, especially those experiencing frequent exacerbations — acute worsening of COPD symptoms leading to emergency department visits or hospitalizations — often face a significant decline in lung function and a high risk of costly readmission. These events contribute to a substantial economic burden; in the U.S. alone, COPD-related costs are projected to approach $40 billion annually over the next 20 years.

The AHN Advanced COPD Clinic focuses on supporting these high-risk patients by providing timely, multidisciplinary disease management and patient education. This specialized approach aims to proactively reduce exacerbations, hospitalizations and readmissions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the overall burden of advanced COPD.

“For patients living with advanced COPD, frequent hospitalizations and declining lung function can be incredibly debilitating, often eroding their quality of life,” said Rajashekar Adurty, MD, system director for COPD. “The AHN Advanced COPD Clinic directly addresses this by offering a truly integrated and proactive care model, including personalized care plans, advanced therapies and wraparound support services to empower our patients and help them regain control over their health.”

Following discharge from an AHN emergency department or hospital inpatient stay due to a COPD exacerbation, a dedicated nurse navigator contacts the patient to promptly schedule an appointment at the Advanced COPD Clinic.

Based at AHN Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) and the Breathing Disorders Center at the AHN McCandless Outpatient Center, the clinic is led by Dr. Adurty, alongside AHN pulmonary critical care specialists Omer Bajwa, MD and Tariq Cheema, MD. These physicians collaborate closely with a dedicated multidisciplinary team, including respiratory therapists and registered nurses, to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.

The team utilizes advanced testing methods, including pulmonary function tests, X-rays and CT scans, to gain a thorough understanding of each patient's condition and its triggers. These insights inform individualized treatment plans, incorporating a range of the latest and most advanced treatment options, such as new biologic therapies and/or procedural interventions like endobronchial valves.

Beyond clinical treatment, patients receive comprehensive support for smoking cessation, optimizing inhaler adherence and technique, and maintaining up-to-date vaccinations for pneumonia, COVID-19, and other relevant illnesses. Additionally, social workers are available to assist patients with transportation to and from appointments and address other social determinants of health that impact their disease state.

Ongoing monitoring continuously tracks patients’ symptoms and progress. When clinically indicated, seamless referrals are facilitated to higher levels of specialized care, including cardiac critical care, palliative care or lung transplant services.

AHN plans to progressively expand the clinic’s services across its footprint.

To learn more about the AHN Advanced COPD Clinic, contact 412-322-7202.

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