|
Center for Chest Disease
New Patients
(registration form)
Pictured (L-R) Mark S. Soberman I Paul N. Chomiak, MD
Welcome to the Center for Chest Disease. Our practice specializes in the care of thoracic surgical patients. Our expertise is focused upon:
Diseases Treated
- Chest Wall Tumors
- Chest Wall Trauma
- Diaphragmatic Paralysis
- Emphysema Bullae/Blebs
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Nodules
- Mediastinal Cysts
- Mediastinal Tumors
- Mesothelioma
- Myasthenia Gravis Thymoma
- Pericardial Effusions
- Pleural Effusions
- Thoracic Infection Empyema/Abcess
- Thoracic Metastasis
Procedures Performed
The standard approach to thoracic surgery utilizes a posterior lateral thoracotomy which is a large incision that cuts through large muscles. This old fashioned approach results in noticeable shoulder immobility and chest wall pain for many months following surgery. Dr. Chomiak utilizes minimal invasive approaches for his thoracic surgical procedures that include endoscopic, VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery), Da Vinci Robotic and a vertical thoracotomy (double-muscle sparing). These techniques allow our patients to recuperate sooner and return back to a functional lifestyle in a matter of weeks as compared to many months.
Procedures of expertise performed include:
- Bi-Lobectomy and Lobectomy
- Bullectomy
- Bronchoscopy (diagnostic & interventional)
- Chamberlain Procedure
- Chest Tube Insertion
- Chest Wall Resection/Reconstruction
- CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- Mediastinal Resection
- Mediastinoscopy
- Muscle Flap Coverage (Rotational)
- Pericardial Drainage
- Pleurodesis
- Pleural (Chronic) Catheter Insertion
- Pneumonectomy
- Sublobar Wedge Resection
Services Provided
Lung Nodule Surveillance is a program offered over a two year interval to provide radiographic follow up of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (lung nodules). If during this surveillance time frame a change is detected in a lung nodule then the patient will undergo additional radiographic testing and/or a lung biopsy.
Tumor Surveillance is a program that is offered to early stage lung cancer patients that have undergone a curative surgical resection or CyberKnife Radiosurgery procedure. The patient will be monitored for a five year period that will include radiographic studies such as a Chest CT scan or PET/CT scans.
Outpatient Pleural Fluid Management is a program that is offered to our patients that have had a recurrent symptomatic pleural effusion that was treated with a chronic pleural catheter system. Our program, in cooperation with home health agencies, will coordinate outpatient pleural fluid drainage sessions in the patient's home or skilled nursing facility.
Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Management is a program offered to our advanced lung cancer patients. Our program will coordinate with local and regional medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to expedite a comprehensive treatment plan that may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical therapy, and/or CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery. Our goal is to facilitate the implementation of a lung cancer treatment plan as well as to facilitate any additional clinical or radiographic staging studies in a timely fashion. If appropriate, advanced lung cancer patients may gain local access to national cancer clinical research trials with our local medical oncology partners.
Appointments
The Center for Chest Disease schedules patients for new consultations or follow up visits by appointment only. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am till 4:30 pm. In consideration to our other scheduled patients, we ask that any rescheduling or cancellation of an appointment be done so with at least a 24 hour notice. The Center for Chest Disease does participate with Medicare and many private health care plans. If your insurance provider requires a written referral then you are responsible for obtaining this from your primary care physician. All copays are due at the time of service. Our practice accepts cash, check, and credit or debt cards. In preparation for a first time consultation appointment we ask that all patients please bring their insurance cards, a current list of medications, and any x-ray/scans that may have been performed at centers outside of Frederick Memorial Hospital.
Confidentiality
Your medical record is strictly private. No information regarding your condition will be given to your relatives, employer, or friends without your permission. You have the right to request a copy of your medical record from our practice. You will be provided with a Health Information Rights statement during each visit.
Patient-Physician Relationship
An excellent patient - physician relationship is important for your health and well being. It is important for you to take an active part in this relationship. The Center for Chest Disease will make every effort to provide you with information about your condition and care in terms that are clear to you. If you have any questions or concerns about our services, fees, or policies, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Multidisciplinary Approach to Therapy
The successful outcomes for patients in our practice are obtained by a multidisciplinary approach to therapy. By offering a coordinated teamwork approach to thoracic healthcare delivery, our patients can experience a benefit in their medical and social needs. This translates into an improved patient recovery through the peri-operative process. From the original encounter with our program's medical assistant and certified nurse practitioner to the perioperative recovery phase, both the patient and their family are considered active partners in the delivery of our specialized healthcare.
Due to the complexity and comorbidity that is involved in thoracic disease, Dr. Chomiak actively collaborates with local and regional medical colleagues to ensure that our patients receive a state-of-the-art comprehensive treatment plan. Since many of our practice's patients are evaluated and treated for a malignancy, a multidisciplinary evaluation offers our patients not only a standard of care treatment plan but also access to many national cancer research trials that are available through our local medical oncology partners. Thus as a patient, your treatment plan may also include consultations or studies with local & regional:
|
