Breathing difficulties can be concerning and may cause symptoms that affect your daily activities. The critical care pulmonologists at ACMH Pulmonary Group are highly skilled and experienced at diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions of the lungs. Their goal is to help you manage your pulmonary health so that you can get back to enjoying life. Providers with the pulmonary group utilize ACMH Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehab Unit to help their patients manage and live better with their lung conditions.



From common conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to more advanced lung disease, the team has the training and experience to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. These include:

• Allergies and asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Emphysema
• Lung cancer
• Lung nodule
• Interstitial Lung Disease
• Pleural disease
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Respiratory failure
• Respiratory infections (pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, bronchitis and fungal infections)
• Sarcoidosis
• Conditions we treat through sleep services
• Tuberculosis (and other mycobacterial infections)

PROVIDERS:
Mitchell Patti, MD
Craig Viti, MD
Michelle Keibler, CRNP

New location for the ACMH PULMONARY GROUP is located at 600 Medical Arts Building, Suite 670, Kittanning, on the ACMH Hospital campus. Call (724) 548-3890 today to schedule a consultation.

Pulmonary rehab is a complement - not an alternative to - existing medical therapy such as inhaled or pill forms of medicines. In the United States, individuals enrolled in a pulmonary rehabilitation program typically meet at the program site 2-3 times a week for 6-12 weeks.

How Does the Program Work?

1. Learning about your specific lung problem from a team of healthcare experts, will help empower you to be a better manager of your disease in collaboration with your own healthcare team. It should also help you learn to communicate your health issues more effectively with your provider.
2. Talking about your breathing problems with others who have similar problems may help you deal with the many emotions often experienced by those with a chronic health problem.
3. If you feel in control of your lung problem, you may feel less stress and have a more positive outlook about your health and life.
4. Individuals with breathing problems can have shortness of breath during exercise or even regular activity. Unfortunately, people try to avoid this feeling by becoming less and less active. This plan may work at first, but in time leads to a vicious circle of avoiding activities which leads to getting out of shape or becoming deconditioned. This can result in even more shortness of breath with activities. Pulmonary rehab exercise training interrupts this cycle, and helps you get in shape and be more active with less shortness of breath.

Those Who Benefit From Pulmonary Rehab Include Those With a History Of:

• COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)
• Bronchiectasis
• Sarcoidosis
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer and lung cancer surgery
• Lung volume reduction surgery
• Pre and post lung transplantation
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

How Do I Enroll in ACMH Pulmonary Rehab?

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF)

• Shortness of breath (shortness of breath lying flat)
• Cough
• Fatigue/Lack of energy
• Swelling in ankles, legs or abdomen

• Take medicine as prescribed
• Check daily weight
• Decrease sodium (salt) in diet
• Do Not Smoke/Avoid secondhand smoke 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• Cardiac Rehab (if directed)
• Keep all doctor appointments 

• Am I using my medications correctly?
• What should I do if I feel my CHF worsening?
• Can you refer me to a cardiac rehabilitation program?
• What vaccinations do I need?

What Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

With COPD, the airways in your lungs become inflamed and thicken, and the tissue where oxygen is exchanged is destroyed. The flow of air in and out of your lungs decreases. When that happens, less oxygen gets into your body tissues, and it becomes harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. As the disease gets worse, shortness of breath makes it harder to remain active.

Sometimes referred to as either chronic bronchitis or emphysema, most people will have symptoms of both conditions, so health professionals prefer to call the disease COPD. However, some doctors think that chronic bronchitis may be present even though a person does not have the airway obstruction characteristic of COPD. Your doctor can explain your condition and the best way to treat it.

It is important to remember that in many cases, COPD can be prevented and treated!

How Serious Is COPD?

COPD is the third leading cause of death by disease in the United States. More than 16.4 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but millions more may have the disease without even knowing it. COPD causes serious long-term disability and early death. At this time there is no cure, and the number of people dying from COPD is growing.

It Can Be Treated

There is no cure for COPD, but the good news is that it can be found early. Much can be done to treat and help manage the disease. Through medications, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and social support, many people are able to live with their disease for many years.