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Examination Room in the New Lung Transplantation Service
Institute of Pulmonary Medicine
Lungs, major organs essential to life, are the site of gas exchange: Oxygen - the fuel all the cells and organs of our body need to function - is extracted from the air we inhale, the lungs relieve the blood of its burden of waste and return a refreshed, oxygen-rich stream of blood to the heart through the pulmonary vein. Although they are internal organs, the lungs are constantly exposed to our external environment and with each breath, a host of alien substances enter our bodies. Thus, our lungs play multiple roles: supplier of oxygen, remover of wastes and toxins and defender against hostile intruders.
For most people, the use of their lungs through breathing is taken for granted, an involuntary reflex. But for those suffering from respiratory failure, ineffective gas exchange across the lungs, each breath is a major accomplishment.
Many different medical conditions can lead to respiratory failure. These include various lung diseases particularly if they are inadequately treated; patients following major internal surgery; and exposure to noxious gases, steam or heat during a fire, extensive lung injury, severe infection and multiple physical injuries.
The Institute of Pulmonary Medicine at Rabin Medical is dedicated to providing state-of-the art medical care for respiratory patients with different forms of lung disease and dysfunction. It is headed by Prof. Mordechai Kramer, an Associate Professor at Tel Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, considered one of the top specialists in his field.
The Institute's expert staff provides comprehensive diagnosis of the cause of respiratory failure, together with identification of the level of lung function. Patients are offered appropriate and effective treatment, attempting to provide support for the heart, lungs and other affected vital organs. Treatment options include use of bronchoscopy and laser for opening of airways and alleviation of patient distress, thoracic surgical intervention, lung transplantation and more.
Treating over 12,000 patients annually, the Institute enables both lifesaving and life-enhancing care. These include rehabilitation services to enable improved lung function in severely ill patients, and prevention programs for the public at large.
As Israel's leading and most expert pulmonary institute, we have the only Lung Transplantation Service in the country, on par with the 10 leading transplantation services worldwide.
The Institute of Pulmonary Medicine is based on the traditional triad of academic medicine, combining patient care, teaching and research. It is committed to the education of future physicians, serving as a teaching center to the University of Tel Aviv's Sackler School of Medicine. Its staff members are involved in important research activities and have published their findings in various journals.
The Institute is comprised of the following units:
Outpatient Clinic
Provides modern treatment for difficult-to-manage patients with chronic respiratory, infectious, allergic or immune disorders. Over 12,000 annual patients, a rise from 8,000 just a few years ago. Combining the medical and laboratory findings, the physicians design a care regimen which optimizes control and stabilization of disease.
Bronchoscopy Service
The bronchoscope is a flexible tube that is passed through the nose or mouth into the trachea and bronchi. Major uses include sampling of lung tissue for biopsy, opening of airways, and insertion of stents for alleviation of patient distress. The Service includes one fully equipped bronchoscopy suite, treating about 1,400 patients every year for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, a dramatic rise from 800 in 2001 and 1,000 in 2005.
Lung Transplantation Service
The Institute, in collaboration with the Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, has Israel's only lung transplant program, often the only chance of recovery for critically ill patients. Patients are evaluated for suitability to transplantation and following transplant, undergo lifetime outpatient surveillance to optimize graft function and post-transplant quality of life. From 1997 to 2008 we performed 270 lung transplants, a record 50 of them during 2008, placing RMC's program on par with the top 10 lung transplant centers in the USA.
Pulmonary Hypertension Center
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare disease with fatal outcome. Recently, new drugs have developed and our center has become a national expert on this disease.
Lung Function Laboratory
The Lung Function Laboratory performs the gamut of physiological testing necessary for diagnosis. Specialized services include examination of lung volumes, diffusion capacity, spirometry, oxygen saturation monitoring and cardiopulmonary exercise evaluation.
Pulmonary Day Care
More than 2,500 patients with various diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, scleroderma, pulmonary fibrosis or post-transplantation follow-up, who need intravenous and other out-patient therapies, are treated in Day Care every year.
Thoracic Oncology
Coordinates evaluation and treatment for lung cancer. Close interaction exists between pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and medical and radiation oncologists, with treatment options including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and endobronchial laser.
Sleep Laboratory
The Institute utilizes advanced technology to diagnose and treat breathing disorders during sleep, aimed at preventing serious complications. 835 patients were diagnosed in the Laboratory in 2008.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center
Rehabilitation programs exist for patients with advanced lung disease, aimed at improving exercise capacity, reducing dyspnea and easing breathlessness. Over 1,200 patients use this service every year.
Enlarging the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine
The Institute of Pulmonary Medicine at Rabin Medical Center is the foremost facility in Israel for treatment of lung diseases, and the only facility throughout the country for lung transplantation. Due to its high level of expertise and national reputation, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of patients, many of them suffering from chronic diseases and in need of lifelong medical care and follow-up. With improved treatment modalities bringing about extended life spans this number is expected to further rise.
The present Institute measures only 500 sq.meters, and the facilities have become extremely overcrowded, much too small to meet present needs and even more so for anticipated future needs. With these overcrowded conditions our patients unfortunately suffer from lack of privacy and dignity. Even more so, the overcrowding could be hazardous to their health.
Therefore, Rabin Medical Center has allocated much larger space for the Pulmonary Institute and plans to relocate it to accommodate this increased patient-load and to provide our patients with the best possible lifesaving care in suitable, well-planned facilities. This will allow us to treat a larger number of patients at any given time in a dignified environment, and to shorten the waiting period for many of our services.
The new Institute of Pulmonary Medicine will be situated on the third floor of the Ambulatory Services Clinics and will be built in two stages. After final completion it will measure approximately 1,200 sq.meters. It will be planned in accordance with modern hospital design models, taking into consideration maximum staff efficiency together with a patient-friendly atmosphere, with special emphasis on patient privacy and dignity.
The first stage of construction will be for a total of over 700 sq. meters. A number of vital facilities will be included in this stage, including 2 Bronchoscopy Suites; a Day Care Unit with 10 stations and an attached procedures room; a Lung Transplantation Service with 4 examination rooms; reception and waiting hall; examination rooms and procedures room; offices, washrooms, dressing rooms, storage, archives and more. Relocation of these facilities to this new area will also enable expansion of the other facilities in the original location.
Stage 2 will include Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, Sleep Laboratory, Lung Function Laboratory, additional examination rooms, waiting areas and more.
The Institute will be equipped with all the most modern cutting-edge medical diagnostic and treatment modalities to ensure accurate and quick diagnosis and maximal lifesaving care. These include bronchoscopy systems in various sizes, bronchoscopy carts, endoscope ultrasound, laser equipment, argon plasma, criotherapy system and cardiopulmonary equipment. In addition, it will include the necessary furnishings, patient beds and armchairs, chairs, office and computer equipment and more.
Lung Transplantation at the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine
The Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, in collaboration with the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, has Israel's only lung transplant program. Established in 1997, it is often the only chance of recovery for critically ill patients, many of them young adults suffering from cystic fibrosis since early childhood, with lung transplantation their only chance for life.
The multidisciplinary team evaluates patients with advanced lung disease that has progressed despite optimal medical therapy. Appropriate candidates are transplanted when a suitable organ becomes available. Dedicated inpatient care and outpatient surveillance programs monitor patients to optimize graft function and post-transplant quality of life.
The Institute is staffed by several highly trained specialists who received their instruction in internationally acclaimed medical centers abroad. Our center is the only active Lung Transplantation service within Israel and performs both lung transplantation and heart-lung transplantation. By the end of 2008 we performed a total of 270 lung transplants, a record 50 of them during 2008. These numbers place RMC's program on par with the top 10 lung transplant centers in the USA.
Examination Room in the New Lung Transplantation Service
Until now, the Lung Transplantation Service was scattered between the various rooms of the Pulmonary Institute, utilizing space, already overcrowded, within the regular Outpatient Clinics. Many of the patients, especially those pre-transplant or in early post-transplant stages, are in critical medical condition, with great difficulty in breathing and often suffering from low immune systems. Thus, they are not in any condition to be transported between rooms for examination and consultation by various multi-discipline staff members, who come to their examination room instead.
This causes great difficulty in coordinating the patients' appointments and meetings with the various professionals. Furthermore, this is a life-long service, and with the rising number of lung transplantations, the number of follow-up patients has risen greatly.
Thus, it is absolutely vital to dedicate space specifically for this service. The Lung Transplantation Service will be consolidated in one dedicated area in the Institute's new facilities, with 4 examination rooms, and will measure a total of 55 sq.meters.
This important project will enable us to enhance the attentive care we give to this special group of patients, and to greatly increase staff efficiency. The realization of this project is a necessity for the well-being of our patients.
Name dedication for one examination room in the Lung Transplantation Service, including construction, refurbishing and equipment is $50,000
For further information, please contact American Friends of Rabin Medical Center at (212) 279-2522 or via e-mail
American Friends of Rabin Medical Center :: 636 Broadway, Suite 218 :: New York, NY 10012 :: (tel) 212.279.2522 :: (fax) 212.279.0179 :: afrmc@afrmc.org