Our Doctors Specialize in the Following Areas:

Asthma
A complete approach to the child with asthma is taken from initial evaluation to exclude asthma imitators and to identify exacerbating factors, to chronic management with emphasis in optimizing function and symptom control while minimizing medications. Cardiopulmonary stress testing and bronchoprovocation studies are available to assess symptom etiology and control in older children.

Cystic Fibrosis
A multidisciplinary team including nutritionists, pharmacists, physical and respiratory therapists, and social workers permits our doctors to provide comprehensive care to patients with cystic fibrosis in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Pediatric Sleep and Breathing Disorders
Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center provides diagnosis and management of infants and children with abnormalities of ventilatory control and sleep disordered breathing. Diagnosis and treatment of problems such as obstructive sleep apnea, central apnea, respiratory insufficiency and narcolepsy are aided by a technologically advanced polysomnography laboratory.

Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
A multidisciplinary team of specialists including speech and occupational therapists are available at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center to provide evaluation, consultation and rehabilitation services for children with swallowing and oral motor dysfunction. Both inpatient and outpatient services are available.

Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Rehabilitation
Preoperative consultation is available to evaluate risks of postoperative pulmonary complications such as prolonged mechanical ventilation, pneumonia, and atelectasis. Patients can be introduced to therapies that may reduce the likelihood of such complications ahead of time. In conjunction with St. John’s Mercy Sports and Therapy Center, individualized outpatient rehabilitation programs can be designed for each child with lung disease to optimize recovery of his or her pulmonary function.

Home Mechanical Ventilation
Children requiring mechanical ventilation or non-invasive mechanical ventilation at home are evaluated and managed in a coordinated manner with their primary physicians. Interval polysomnography is performed to assess and titrate ventilator settings.