Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health’s mission is to provide excellent state-of-the-art patient care. We recognize the honor and responsibility of caring for our patients and their loved ones. Our compassionate team provides inpatient medical care across the entire Methodist Healthcare System, South Texas’ most respected and preferred provider. Our range of pulmonary services encompasses the entirety of pulmonary health, from preventative services and screenings to chronic disease management and treatment. See our full list of services below.
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are the most common lung diseases in the United States. These are called Obstructive Lung Diseases and cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, and can sometimes lead to hospitalizations. These conditions can severely impact the quality of life of the patients who have them—and they also affect women differently than men, with higher rates of asthma and COPD across most age groups.
At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we strive to provide state-of-the-art care for our patients with these conditions. From diagnosis to management, we provide the most advanced therapies available for the comprehensive care of our patients. Our goal is to improve quality of life and preserve lung function so our patients can breathe easier and feel strong.
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are the most common lung diseases in the United States. These are called Obstructive Lung Diseases and cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, and can sometimes lead to hospitalizations. These conditions can severely impact the quality of life of the patients who have them—and they also affect women differently than men, with higher rates of asthma and COPD across most age groups.
At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we strive to provide state-of-the-art care for our patients with these conditions. From diagnosis to management, we provide the most advanced therapies available for the comprehensive care of our patients. Our goal is to improve quality of life and preserve lung function so our patients can breathe easier and feel strong.
Most Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) cases are rare. Patients with these disorders need a high level of expertise. At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we have a dedicated ILD clinic that includes a highly specialized team of physicians who are experts in ILD cases.
Our physicians understand the complexity and difficulty in getting an accurate diagnosis of ILD. Since diagnosis is so critical for these cases, our program provides state-of-the-art treatment and recommendations to get patients closer to answers and next steps.
Our clinic and program are dedicated to improving the lives of patients with Interstitial Lung Disease. We do this by focusing on patient care, education and community building here in San Antonio and the great area.
Some of the conditions we specialize in include:
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia
• Sarcoidosis
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• Pulmonary complications of connective tissue diseases
• Interstitial lung diseases related to tobacco use, environmental, and occupational toxins
Often, our physicians are able to diagnosis and manage our patients’ conditions with less invasive treatments and minimizing the use of steroids. For diagnosis, our bronchoscopy team is able to perform both standard and advanced procedures in cases where biopsy is necessary.
We are the only group in San Antonio offering Transbronchial cryobiopsy, which has been introduced as a technique to obtain biopsy samples of lung parenchyma that exceed the size and quality of forceps biopsy samples. We encourage and arrange for Pulmonary rehabilitation for our patients. We also provide our patients with their oxygen therapy, pulmonary function testing, and assessment
For patients with advanced lung diseases, we work closely with the lung transplant centers in San Antonio and Houston to get them closer to answers and next steps.
Pulmonary hypertension is a specific type of high blood pressure that affect the arteries in the lungs and on the right side of the heart. If left untreated or improperly treated, pulmonary hypertension can worsen and become life-threatening. At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we can help chart a path for treatment via medication, therapy, or surgery to reduce risk and enhance quality of life.
Lung cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in the United States for both men and women, and most common cause of cancer related death. The relatively asymptomatic nature of lung cancer can lead to higher incidence of advanced disease at time of diagnosis, with typically worse prognosis. As a result, 5-year survival rate for lung cancer patients in general is only 15%, whereas survival for patients diagnosed with early stage disease who undergo surgical resection is 85%.
Accordingly the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends low-dose CT scanning of the chest as a screening tool for those individuals at risk for developing lung cancer.
Our Lung Nodule/Lung Cancer Clinic provides both lung cancer screening and direct pathways for diagnosis and treatment when necessary. We are firmly committed to the process of early detection and treatment of potential lung cancers for the members of our community.
Pulmonary Embolism can be life threatening and cause chronic lung problems. Women on hormone therapy are more predisposed to develop a PE. We can guide you through treatment, monitor for development of chronic issues, and assess your risk for future thrombus development.
We offer state-of-the-art modes of comprehensive testing aimed at defining and diagnosing a myriad of sleep disorders. Our physicians will determine which of these are suitable for you and your particular needs. These include both home and facility sleep testing as outlined below —
Ambulatory Sleep Study (Home Sleep Test): a 1 or 2 night in-home screening test used to identify, or exclude, the presence of sleep apnea. Certain medical conditions may preclude this form of testing including heart disease and chronic hypoxic respiratory failure requiring supplemental oxygen therapy.
Nocturnal Polysomnography (In-lab Sleep Test): an overnight test at one of the Methodist Health System Sleep labs. This form of testing consists of continuous monitoring of brain waves to confirm sleep (EEG), heartbeat (EKG), eye movements (EOG), muscle activity (EMG), blood oxygen levels, chest and abdominal movement and nasal/oral airflow to identify the presence of sleep apnea. This evaluation may or may not include a positive airway pressure trial on the initial night of diagnostic testing, or alternatively you may be brought back to the Sleep lab for a dedicated titration study, if warranted.
Multiple Sleep Latency Test: A daytime test, usually following an all-night test, used to define a range of unusual sleep disorders including narcolepsy. Maintenance of
Wakefulness Test: A daytime test, done to determine the ability to stay awake under controlled circumstances.
All tests ordered through our practice will be interpreted and reviewed by a Board certified Sleep Medicine specialist, and your clinician will then determine the best evidence-based approach to address your sleep needs.
Pregnancy can exacerbate chronic lung conditions and can lead to development of new lung conditions. We can help you breathe easy through your pregnancy and after.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a rare disease found almost exclusively in women, that affects the lungs, kidneys, and lymphatic system. Most often presenting when women are in their thirties, LAM causes an overgrowth of smooth muscle-like cells in the lungs, causing lung cysts to form and destroying healthy lung tissue. While there is no all-out cure, treatments include drugs to improve lung function, oxygen therapy, and lung transplantation.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more that 480,000 people every year. And it’s never too late—or too early—to quit. Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing smoking-related diseases, and although quitting smoking can be difficult—fewer than one in ten smokers succeed in quitting every year—there are resources to help.
At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we can work with you as a partner to create a quit-smoking plan you’ll be able to stick to, and talk to you about medications and therapies to help in your journey.
Patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) often have difficulty with their daily activities due to shortness of breath. Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a comprehensive rehabilitation program designed specifically for patients with lung disease that has been shown to improve quality of life and relieve shortness of breath. The program involves twice-weekly sessions for a period of 12 weeks and includes exercise and education in a group setting. The program helps patients to improve their exercise capacity which helps them get back to daily life. It also provides education on breathing techniques to help them cope with the symptom of breathlessness. In addition, it provides an important support system by allowing patients to meet other people with the same experience. Pulmonary Rehabilitation forms an integral part of the comprehensive care of patients with respiratory conditions.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction is abnormal motion of the vocal cords. It can manifest as shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, or abnormal breathing patterns. Women experience VCD at a higher rate than men do. At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we treat Vocal Cord Dysfunction through proactively decreasing factors that can irritate the larynx and helping patients to learn breathing techniques to decrease frequency and react during episodes.
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) lung infections can manifest as a chronic cough and develop into bronchiectasis. This phenomenon occrs predominantly in post menopausal women as low serum estradiol levels are linked to MAC development.
Menopause is associated with accelerated loss of lung function, even comparable to losses seen in pack-a-day cigarette smoker. At the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health, we can help build a treatment plan with either medication or therapy to ensure your lungs are not preventing you from reaching your goals.
You’ve been discharged from the hospital. You may be wondering what happens next. Our team of experts can craft a care plan catered to your specific needs. We will safely evaluate tests, monitor your illness, and get you on the road to navigating your recovery.
Our steps to help you fully recover from illness:
• Review medication changes
• Review diagnosis and treatment plan
• Follow up on labs
• Evaluate tests and procedures needed
• Determine continuation of care with relevant specialists
While recovering from COPD, CVA, CHF, CAD, CABG, Pneumonia, or COVID-19, you might experience prolonged discomfort, with symptoms that can linger for weeks. We can fulfill medication, evaluate your condition, and offer our full expertise on how to navigate your path to recovery.
Interventional Pulmonology is a field specialized in the performance of advanced bronchoscopy and other minimally invasive procedures for the management of diseases related to the lungs and chest. Our Interventional Pulmonology Service is available for outpatient and inpatient evaluations and treatment for patients with manifestations of complicated lung disease.
Diagnostic Procedures and Services:
• Standard Diagnostic Bronchoscopy
• Robotic and navigational and bronchoscopy for small peripheral lesions
• Cryobiopsy for diffuse parenchymal lung disease
• Medical Thoracoscopy for recurrent pleural effusions
Therapeutic Procedures:
• Rigid bronchoscopy for benign and malignant airway pathology
• Endobronchial and endotracheal tumor management
• Endotracheal and endobronchial stent placement
• Management of tumor related hemoptysis
• Management of benign tracheal stenosis
• Foreign body removal from airway
• Percutaneous tracheostomy
• Endobronchial valves for lung volume reduction in severe COPD
• Tunneled pleural catheter insertion and pleurodesis for recurrent effusions
Obesity is strongly linked with several lung conditions and disorders, like exertional dyspnea, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary embolism, and aspiration pneumonia can affect your lung health in multiple ways. Allow us to help you optimize lungs health and support your weight loss journey and achieve your goals.
As testing for COVID-19 becomes more widely available, you may be wondering what a positive COVID-19 diagnosis actually means. Our team of experts have a care plan for you. At Texas IPS we will safely evaluate tests and will monitor your illness and get you on the road to navigating your recovery.
1. Medication changes
2. Evaluate lung reserve and oxygen needs
3. Cardiac function post COVID-19 diagnosis
4. Labs
5. Mental aptitude
6. Physical therapy
While recovering from COVID-19, you might experience prolonged fatigue, cough and shortness of breath, among other things. These symptoms may last for several weeks. This is where we come in. We will be able to fulfill medication, new and old, evaluate your lung function and oxygen levels, and offer our full expertise on how you can better yourself to fight COVID-19.
For certain very challenging pulmonary conditions and diseases, the best option is lung transplantation. With a team of experts experienced in the treatment of people with serious lung diseases, the Women’s Center for Pulmonary Health is committed to helping potential lung transplant recipients at every stage of a process that can be complex and confusing for patients.
Our multi-disciplinary team will discuss the full range of transplantation and treatment options, carefully evaluating conditions and helping determine what path is the best fit for each patient. We work hand-in-hand with transplant surgeons and surgical teams to elect and manage transplant patients, and provide inpatient support and outpatient care to ensure recovery happens smoothly.