Pediatric Pulmonology Clinical Services

Overview

The UT Health San Antonio Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Pulmonology offers state-of-the-art, evidence based inpatient and outpatient care to infants, children, and adolescents with a wide variety of lung diseases including asthma, allergies, airway abnormalities, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (lung disease resulting from prematurity), cystic fibrosis, recurrent pneumonia, and dependency on mechanical ventilation and/or oxygen. Our team of physicians and nurse practitioners works collaboratively with other specialists at UT Health/University Hospital as well as with respiratory therapists, dieticians, social workers, and nurses to provide the highest quality care in partnership with our patients and their families.  Our division oversees two state of the art pulmonary function laboratories.  Members of the division are experts in the performance of pediatric bronchoscopy (airway evaluation).  We provide consultative inpatient care at University Hospital.

Asthma/General Pulmonary Clinics

Combining the expertise of board-certified pediatric physicians and advanced practice providers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the facilities and resources of University Healthcare System, our pediatric pulmonary program provides state -of-the-art clinical care center for infants, children, and adolescents in Central and South Texas. Pulmonary function testing laboratories staffed by pediatric respiratory therapists in our pulmonary clinics allow for more comprehensive evaluation of pediatric lung diseases.  Pulmonary clinics/pulmonary function testing laboratories are located  at University Hospital and
Robert B. Green Campus.

Cystic Fibrosis

Our Cystic Fibrosis Foundation accredited Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Center is located at University Hospital. We deliver state of the art care and participate in clinical trials for new therapies with the goal of enhancing the quality of life and survival of patients with cystic fibrosis. Our Center staff includes pediatric pulmonologists and nurse practitioners, a nurse, dietician, respiratory therapist, and social worker. In our combined clinics with Pediatric Endocrinology, we provide care to children with cystic fibrosis who have diabetes, growth hormone deficiency, and precocious puberty.  Our Center Psychologist is available to address the mental health issues of our patients. We have an active transition program through which we work with adolescents to assure that they have the necessary knowledge about cystic fibrosis and their therapies such that when they become adults, they are capable of independently managing their disease.  They receive training on how to refill medications, care for airway clearance devices, the nuances of insurance, and how to advocate for their healthcare needs in school as well as in the workplace.  We work with the members of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program (also housed at University Hospital) to assure a seamless transition to adult providers when the patient is 18 years of age. Our staff coordinates sweat testing for infants with positive newborn screens and provides counselling to families based on the results.  The Center participates in quality improvement research as well as research on new drug therapies. Members of the Cystic Fibrosis Center serve on several national committees, have been involved in creating cystic fibrosis care guidelines, and serve as mentors for new cystic fibrosis care providers. The Cystic Fibrosis Center received a Quality Improvement Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2017 for their work to reduce the incidence of Pseudomonas colonization.  The Center holds an annual CF Family Education Day and participates in fund raising activities sponsored by the South Texas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Cystic Fibrosis Center, 8th Floor Horizon Tower
University Hospital
4502 Medical Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229
(210) 743-8600

Allergy/Immunology

The Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases Division is the only comprehensive diagnostic and treatment program in south and central Texas for primary immune deficiency disorders, allergy and immune hypersensitivity disorders, as well as diagnostic evaluation and management of children with rheumatologic and infectious disease disorders and related syndromes.

Complex Pulmonary Clinic

In combined clinics with the faculty of the Division of Complex and Palliative Care, members of the pulmonary division provide care for children with complex medical issues that may result from genetic and neurologic syndromes, trauma, and/or prematurity.   These children often require complex airway clearance regiments, supplemental oxygen, CPAP, BIPAP and/or mechanical ventilation. Through our collaboration with the members of the Division of Complex and Palliative Care, we develop care plans that minimize the number of clinic visits, improve coordination of care, and are respective of the family’s goals of care for their children.  When these children are hospitalized, members of the pulmonary division can provide inpatient consultation.

University Hospital
5th floor, Rio Tower
4502 Medical Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78229
Appointments: (210) 358-3424

Pulmonary Function Testing

We provide comprehensive pulmonary function testing in a state of the art laboratory where we can evaluate the lung function on children as young as 5 years of age.  Modalities that are offered in the laboratory include:

Inpatient Consults

We provide inpatient consultations at University Hospital.  For questions or to request an inpatient consultation please call 210-358-kids(5437) or 210-358-4000 and ask for the Pulmonologist on-call.

  • Spirometry
  • Plethysmography
  • Diffusion Capacity
  • Impulse Oscillometry
  • Exhaled Nitric Oxide

Robert B. Green Campus
6th Floor
903 W. Martin
San Antonio, Texas 78207
(210) 358-5490

  • Cold Air Challenge
  • Methacholine Challenge
  • Exercise Testing
  • Exercise Laryngoscopy