What Is a Pulmonologist/Pulmonary Specialist?

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What Is a Pulmonologist/Pulmonary Specialist?

• By Glenda E. Flemister, MD, FACP, FCCP

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• Pulmonologist Overview
• A Pulmonologist, or Pulmonary Disease Specialist,
  is a physician who possesses specialized
  knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and
  treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and
  diseases.Pulmonology is classified as an
  internal medicine subspecialty. Because of the
  variety of clinical problems encountered,
  knowledge of internal medicine and other
  specialties is required in order to obtain
  certification.

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• Education in Internal Medicine
• Graduation from an approved medical school
• Completion of an ACGME (American Council for
  Graduate Medical Education) accredited internal
  medicine residency program, which takes a minimum
  of 3 years
• A minimum of 2 years of meaningful patient
  contact and responsibility
• Of the 2 years, 20 months must be spent in
  in-patient services, ambulatory settings, and in
  the services of dermatology or neurology
• 4 months may be taken outside the above areas,
  subject to program director approval
• The level of responsibility for patients must
  increase with each year of training

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• Pulmonologist Examination Certification
• After satisfactory completion of graduate
  education, the physician is allowed to take the
  Internal Medicine Board Certification
  Examination. After passing the exam, the
  physician receives board certification in
  internal medicine. This is a prerequisite to
  becoming certified in pulmonology.Once board
  certified in internal medicine, the physician
  must be trained in the subspecialty of pulmonary
  medicine in order to receive certification in
  pulmonology.

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• Education in Pulmonary Medicine
• A minimum of 2 years of full-time graduate
  training in pulmonary disease, including
  instruction in the basic sciences with emphasis
  on molecular biology, pulmonary physiology, and
  pulmonary immunology
• 12 months of the 2 years must be spent in
  clinical training in diagnosis and management
• The physician seeking certification in pulmonary
  medicine is expected to become knowledgeable
  about and acquire clinical experience with
  pulmonary diseases and disorders. Knowledge and
  competence in performing and interpreting tests
  and procedures must be acquired. Expertise must
  be developed in monitoring and supervising
  special services and facilities such as
  critical care or respiratory care units,
  pulmonary function laboratories, respiratory care
  techniques and services, and respiratory physical
  therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation facilities.

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• Pulmonologist Examination Certification
• After training has been satisfactorily completed,
  the candidate is allowed to take the board
  certification examination in pulmonary medicine.
  After passing the exam, the physician receives
  board certification in pulmonary medicine.

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• Education in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
• All educational experience and program content
  required for training in both areas must be
  included in an accredited program
• A minimum of 3 years training
• A minimum of 18 months of the 3 years is spent in
  Clinical Training
• At least 12 months of clinical training must
  provide training in Critical Care Units
• At least 6 months of training in critical care
  units must be devoted to the care of critically
  ill medical patients
• At least half a day, each week, for 30 months in
  pulmonary care training in an ambulatory care
  setting

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• In addition to gaining expertise as a pulmonary
  disease specialist, these physicians are expected
  to gain broad experience and competence in the
  treatment and management of critically ill adult
  patients, which includes tests, procedures,
  services, and treatments in other areas of
  medicine, such as cardiology, endocrinology,
  infectious diseases, and so on. The resident will
  monitor critical care patients during their
  hospital stay and after theyve left the
  hospital.
• They are required to learn how to organize and
  manage a critical care unit, and how to work as a
  member of a multidisciplinary team. They also
  must acquire knowledge about medications used in
  critical care. Equally important, an
  understanding of the ethical, economic, legal,
  psychosocial, and emotional aspects of critical
  illness and critical care must be obtained.

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• Pulmonologist Examination Certification
• After training has been satisfactorily completed
  in both specialties, the candidate is allowed to
  take the board certification examinations in
  pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.
  After passing these exams, the physician receives
  board certification in pulmonary and critical
  care medicine.

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• Education in Pediatric Pulmonology Medicine
• The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
  certificate in General Pediatrics is awarded
  after all the following requirements have been
  met
• Graduation from an accredited medical school in
  the United States or Canada or from a foreign
  medical school recognized by the World Health
  Organization
• Completion of 3 years of training in pediatrics
  in an accredited residency program that involves
  the care of children and adolescents in both
  hospital and outpatient settings and that is
  supervised by highly trained medical specialists
• Verification of satisfactory completion of
  residency training and acceptability as a
  practitioner of pediatrics, including the
  achievement of clinical competence and the
  demonstration of professional and ethical
  behavior

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• Possession of a valid, unrestricted state license
  to practice medicine
• Successful completion of a comprehensive 2-day
  written examination covering all aspects of
  healthcare for infants, children, and adolescents
• Subspecialists in pediatric pulmonology
  medicine may earn certification in their field
  after 3 additional years of training, which
  includes the following requirements
• 50 percent of clinical training in ambulatory
  care
• Minimum of 5 months in-patient pediatrics
• Minimum of 4 months in emergent and acute illness
  care
• 1 month in newborn care
• 4-6 months in intensive care experience

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• Experience in adolescent medicine must be
  integrated throughout the 3 years
• 3 months in pulmonary medicine
• throughout the 3 years, time must be devoted to
  continuous care of children
• Physicians are expected to develop skills in
  tests and procedures to acquire knowledge in the
  fundamental disciplines of allergy, immunology,
  and immunopathology to acquire consultative
  experience in pulmonary intensive care to
  acquire experience in the evaluation of
  psychosocial aspects of chronic pulmonary
  disease, and counseling chronically ill patients
  and their families and to become familiar with
  the operation of a pediatric pulmonology
  facility.

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• Pediatric Pulmonologist Examination
  Certification
• Candidates must be evaluated and recommended by
  someone qualified to judge their work, and they
  must pass a demanding examination in the
  subspecialty. The Credentials Committee of the
  American Board of Pediatrics gathers additional
  information about the applicant and determines if
  permission to take the examination should be
  given. After passing the exam, the physician
  receives board certification in pediatric
  pulmonology medicine.

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• Heres a list of conditions treated by
  pulmonologists
• ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic Cough
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Hemoptysis
• Lung Cancer

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• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Pleural Effusion
• Sarcoidosis
• Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
• Tuberculosis
• Publication Review By the Editorial Staff
  at HealthCommunities.com

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• Contact us
• Glenda E. Flemister, MD, FACP, FCCP
• Address 21200 South La Grange Road,Suite
  273,Frankfort, IL. 60423