UCSF Among First in U.S. to Receive New Pulmonary Care Designation
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association has accepted UC San Francisco (UCSF) into its Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network (CCN), recognizing UCSF’s dedication to providing high-quality medical care, resources and education for patients with bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease.
UCSF has been designated a Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center, based on the depth and breadth of its services. The new CCN program includes 27 care centers and six clinical associate centers in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease characterized by enlarged airways that are thickened or scarred. These permanently widened airways lead to a buildup of mucus and impaired clearance of bacteria from the lungs. It can arise from a current or previous inflammatory process, immunologic dysfunction or a genetic disorder, and is often complicated by chronic or recurrent infections.
NTM lung disease is a chronic respiratory condition caused by certain types of mycobacteria commonly found in the environment, including in soil and water. NTM lung disease predominantly affects individuals with compromised immune systems or preexisting lung conditions, such as bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
UCSF’s Bronchiectasis and NTM Clinical and Research Program (INTEGRATE) was founded in 2019 as a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis, pulmonary NTM disease, primary ciliary dyskinesia and cystic fibrosis related pulmonary disorders. The focus of the program is to provide holistic care for patients with these conditions and support efforts to advance patient care, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and research.
To accomplish this, the INTEGRATE team includes physicians in pulmonary medicine, infectious diseases, radiology and microbiology, as well as providers in physical therapy, respiratory therapy and pharmacy. Services provided include consultation for diagnosis and evaluation of bronchiectasis and pulmonary NTM infections, complex disease management, airway clearance, aerosol therapies, multidisciplinary case review and clinical and translational research programs.
“CCN designation will provide further resources to Bay Area and Northern California patients, providing the opportunity for more educational resources to individuals and their caregivers, support systems and clinical trial opportunities,” said UCSF pulmonologist and INTEGRATE program director B. Shoshana Zha, MD, PhD. “It ensures all providers within INTEGRATE have direct communication to national experts and researchers to obtain the most updated care recommendations, providing only the most evidence-based therapeutic plans to patients."
About the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people with bronchiectasis, nontuberculous mycobacterial lung (NTM) disease or both conditions. The Association accomplishes this by providing education, supporting advocacy, furthering research and advancing high-quality, specialized care. For more information, visit www.bronchandntmorg.
About UCSF Health: UCSF Health is recognized worldwide for its innovative patient care, reflecting the latest medical knowledge, advanced technologies and pioneering research. It includes the flagship UCSF Medical Center, which is a top-ranked specialty hospital, as well as UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, with campuses in San Francisco and Oakland; two community hospitals, UCSF Health St. Mary's and UCSF Health Saint Francis; Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital; UCSF Benioff Children’s Physicians; and the UCSF Faculty Practice. These hospitals serve as the academic medical center of the University of California, San Francisco, which is world-renowned for its graduate-level health sciences education and biomedical research. UCSF Health has affiliations with hospitals and health organizations throughout the Bay Area. Visit www.ucsfhealth.org. Follow UCSF Health on Facebook or on Twitter.