LUNG HEALTH News is a publication of the American Lung Association of California and its offices throughout the state, which are dedicated to preventing lung disease and promoting lung health.

For program information in your area, please contact your nearest American Lung Association at 800.586.4872, where you can also speak with registered nurses and respiratory therapists through our free HelpLine, or find us at www.californialung.org.

We encourage duplication of articles printed in LUNG HEALTH News. Please include appropriate attribution.

Looming Shortage of Doctors Could Hurt Patient Care

A looming shortage of pulmonary and critical care doctors has healthcare professionals concerned about patient care. A study released in 2000 predicted that demand for services would outpace the supply of these medical specialists by 2007.

“The predictions were quite correct and unfortunately, many underestimated the significance of that report,” says Philip Gold, MD, chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He is also an active member of the California Thoracic Society, the American Lung Association of California’s medical section.

The study was commissioned by the American Thoracic Society and other groups concerned about the quality of pulmonary and critical care medicine in the United States. It was published in the December 6, 2000, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association and was the first study of its kind to include aging “baby boomers” in its results, which are a significant factor because as we age we require more medical services.

Care of the critically ill and management of pulmonary disease are two of the largest specialties in medicine. While there is concern about physician and nursing shortages across the boards, these specialties may be hardest hit. Smoking-related diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema tend to affect people as they age, which means COPD rates will continue to increase as our population ages.

“The rise of COPD is just one of the many problems we’ll need to address,” says Lawrence Kline, DO, senior consultant in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Scripps Clinic and an American Lung Association of California volunteer. “We will see a lot of pulmonary disease in the baby boomer group as smoking and occupational exposures start to affect their health.We have to build our capacity so we can be prepared for more patients with breathing disorders.”

Download Lung Health News Magazine, Fall 2007/Winter 2008

PDF format, 737KB, 8Pages.

$1 MILLION LIFESAVING LEGACY

In life, Anita McCullough was deeply concerned about keeping kids away from tobacco and improving air quality. In passing, she left a $1 million legacy that will help the American Lung Association of California save lives.

McCullough had become addicted to tobacco while in college during the 1930s, which resulted in a type of lung disease that deprived her of lung capacity and required her to stay hooked up to oxygen.

She spent her final years living in Palm Desert and supporting an organization she trusted.“I just want to make sure the American Lung Association is able to continue working to clean up the air and keep kids from smoking,” she once said.

Visit The American Lung Association of California Website

The American Lung Association of California and its offices statewide work to prevent lung disease and promote lung health.

Since 1904, the American Lung Association has been fighting lung disease through education, community service, advocacy and research. Lung disease, including asthma, emphysema, and lung cancer, is the third leading cause of death in America.

The American Lung Association is the greatest single resource for information and education about asthma. We have assumed a leading role in the fight against tobacco, helping smokers to quit, encouraging children not to start smoking, and protecting nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. We are constantly fighting for improved government standards for air quality, so everyone can breathe easier.

The ALA of California has funded research since 1958. This year, we funded 21 projects for nearly $500,000.

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