Pulmonary Outpatient Services

Yale New Haven Hospital's Winchester Center for Lung Disease provides evaluation and treatment services to patients with tuberculosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular processes, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis and undiagnosed or general respiratory problems. 

The Thoracic Oncology Program 

 (TOP) at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven provides evaluation and treatment to patients with thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymoma or chest wall tumors. The program, a flagship multidisciplinary program of Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, coordinates and integrates the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of patients in collaboration with cancer physicians who expertise in these types of cancer. 

The Thoracic Interventional Program 

is a collaboration between pulmonary medicine and thoracic surgery that provides evaluation of lung nodules or masses, mediastinal adenopathy, airway conditions and pleural disease. The team conducts comprehensive assessment and treatment through a variety of services: 

• Flexible bronchoscopy for masses, infiltrates or other appropriate conditions
• Mediastinal assessment using video-mediastinoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
• Rigid bronchoscopy for foreign body removal, stent placement and therapy for tracheobronchial obstruction due to cancer or benign lesions
• Whole lung lavage and bronchial thermoplasty

Lung Life Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Lung Life is a pulmonary rehabilitation program that assists you in managing your breathing problems through a series of classes and exercises tailored to your specific condition. Lung Life is for people with breathing problems resulting from diseases such as:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Chronic bronchitis
• Asthma
• Pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Cystic fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis 

We also assist patients who are preparing for or recovering from lung surgery. Use of oxygen does not limit your participation.

What can Lung Life mean to you?

• Independence
• Better quality of life by improving your ability to perform daily activities
• Understanding your lung disease
• Fewer breathing problems and sick days
• Increased strength and endurance
• Decreased anxiety about living with your breathing condition

Lung Life is open to anyone with pulmonary disease who has a physician referral. The program is coordinated by a registered nurse and a physical therapist and consists of small group sessions held twice a week for at least 18 sessions. Your physician will maintain primary responsibility for your care. We will update your physician about your progress.

Each Lung Life session includes supervised exercise in our gym using a variety of equipment. Our experienced staff will develop an exercise program that will meet your individual abilities, limitations, and best fit your needs. For more information or to register for Lung Life, please call 203-789-3995, Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

The Sleep Center evaluates, diagnoses and treats patients with sleep disorders and related conditions including snoring and sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, circadian and shift work-related disorders, narcolepsy, insomnia, and parasomnias such as sleep walking and talking. As  an interdisciplinary program, our physicians work closely with specialists in otolaryngology, neurology, cardiology, psychology, dentistry and bariatric surgery.

The Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases Program is a collaborative effort involving medical specialists from pulmonary and critical care medicine, occupational and environmental medicine, and pathology. Patients with asthma, interstitial lung disease and other pulmonary disorders are evaluated to determine whether environmental and/or occupational exposures may be causing or worsening their lung diseases. Workplace and home environmental assessments may be performed by a member of our industrial hygiene team as part of the evaluation and plan for treatment. This is the only such program in the country where specific inhalation challenge testing is performed for diagnostic and research purposes. 

Learn more about Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Clinical Research Initiatives