Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
The pulmonologists, critical care specialists, and certified sleep medicine specialists at the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University have training and expertise to care for patients with a wide range of respiratory conditions.
Find a pulmonary and critical care and sleep medicine provider now.
To learn more about research and academics in Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, click here.
Physicians trained in pulmonary and critical care are experts in lung diseases, such as pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, COPD, sarcoidosis, lung infections, undiagnosed cough, lung nodules and masses, and interstitial lung disease, as well as treating those who require intensive care.
Sleep medicine providers specialize in diagnosing and treating sleep-related disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia.
Anyone experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, and excessive sleepiness are welcome. Patients must be referred by a physician or their primary care provider to be seen.
Pulmonary & Critical Care Services
We have many important subspecialty clinics as a part of our pulmonary and critical care services, including:
- Asthma Clinic
- Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
- Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic
- Pulmonary Clinic
- Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic (high blood pressure in the lungs)
- Sarcoidosis Clinic
Our providers are actively engaged in and dedicated to the training of the next generation of pulmonary and critical care fellows, Upstate medical students, and residents from the Department of Medicine and anesthesia. They do this through participation in didactic lectures to the general house staff, teaching rounds during pulmonary consultation service, fellow conferences, and teaching rounds during MICU service. Division members have also been recognized for excellence in teaching within the SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Sleep Center
Sleep disorders are so common, it is estimated that a third of the population has one. Insomnia is most prevalent, followed by sleep apnea. The first step to diagnosing your sleep disorder is determining what happens during your sleep that might be causing you trouble.
There are two states of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. NREM sleep has four stages that are distinguishable by electroencephalography (EEG). REM sleep is associated with dreaming and paralysis of bodily muscles (except for the eye and diaphragm muscles). REM sleep alternates with NREM sleep approximately every 90 minutes. A person with normal sleep usually has four to five cycles of NREM and REM sleep during a night.
At the Sleep Center, we conduct sleep studies to find out what may be keeping you (and your loved one) up at night. The center features 12 private rooms, and each is individually climate-controlled. The center operates 7 days a week.
What to Expect
To undergo a sleep study, you will need to spend a night in our Sleep Center. The lab is set up like a bedroom. Each room comes equipped with a bed, nightstand, and television, so you’ll have all the basic comforts of home. After you arrive and get settled in, small applicators (EEG electrodes) will be placed on your skin to measure everything from leg movement to brain waves while you sleep. The time it takes you to fall asleep is recorded, as well as the time it takes you to enter REM sleep. In the corner of the room is a small night-vision video camera that will record your movements during sleep.
The study is relatively easy for patients. It requires very little effort on your part, except for falling asleep. Most patients require just a single visit for a thorough assessment. Sometimes, an additional visit might be required. On the other hand, your sleep medicine provider may determine that a home sleep test can be performed instead of a sleep study in the lab.
Sleep Study Types
We offer the following types of sleep studies:
This comprehensive, overnight diagnostic study is used to assess your sleep cycle. It does so by continuously recording your brain waves, muscle activity, eye movement, breathing rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm while you sleep. Patients may also be directly observed during sleep in the Sleep Center.
A PSG may be ordered to evaluate you for possible sleep disorders, such as hypersomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, breathing difficulties during sleep, behavior disturbances during sleep, or other problems.
A CPAP/bilevel titration test is an overnight therapeutic study conducted to determine appropriate CPAP or bilevel therapy levels for the treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea.
During this study, you’ll wear a CPAP or bilevel mask that covers your nose and/or face. Air from the mask helps to keep your airway open during sleep. The air pressure will be adjusted by the sleep tech to find the proper level needed to most effectively treat your sleep apnea. EEG electrodes will also be placed on your skin to monitor your breathing and other functioning as you sleep.
After a review of your study results, your doctor will arrange for you to get a CPAP or bilevel machine to be used at a specific level during sleep.
A split study combines the diagnostic PSG test and the therapeutic CPAP/bilevel titration during a single overnight study.
If you meet certain criteria, we will be able to both identify the sleep disorder as well as determine CPAP/bilevel therapy levels on the same night. A split study is sometimes preferred when severe sleep apnea is suspected. On occasion, you may still need to come back in for an overnight CPAP/bilevel titration study to adjust therapy levels as needed.
An MSLT incorporates an overnight diagnostic sleep study, plus an all-day series of naps. It is most commonly used to diagnose narcolepsy or hypersomnolence (excessive sleepiness). An overnight PSG study will be performed, after which the patient will remain at the Sleep Center the following day for a series of nap studies. Four to five naps are required, each about two hours apart. You can expect to remain at the center until 4:30 pm the day after you arrive.
In some cases, your sleep medicine provider may determine that a home sleep test is most appropriate for you – such as if you have risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea and no other medical disorders. You will be instructed on how to use the home sleep test equipment. This type of sleep study lets you sleep in the comfort of your own home while a machine collects information. You will return the device to your provider after the test is complete, so the data can be evaluated. Based on the results, you provider will recommend treatment.
Your doctor will determine the type of sleep test most appropriate for the symptoms you are having. Your tests will be done in one of the Sleep Center's private rooms, set up for your comfort during both day and night studies. During the testing period, laboratory technicians will monitor your brain waves, breathing, heart activity, muscle activity, and other functions. The results of these tests are reviewed and interpreted, and a report is sent to the ordering physician with recommendations for treatment and follow-up. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, breathing aid devices, and medications.
What Else You Need to Know
Pulmonary and critical care and sleep medicine care is provided by Department of Medicine providers at the following locations:
- Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Asthma Clinic
- Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic
- Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
- Sarcoidosis Clinic
- University Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine
- Upstate Sleep Center
- Upstate University Hospital
- Lung Cancer and Thoracic Oncology Program
- Pulmonary Function Testing (Room 6706)
- Phone: (315) 464-4530
- Fax: (315) 464-4193
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University
Phone: (315) 464-4184
Fax: (315) 464-6228
Address:
750 E. Adams St.
Room 2604 Syracuse,
NY 13210
Pulmonary Hypertension
- This type of high blood pressure affects vessels in the lungs (podcast) by Upstate pulmonologist Birendra Sah
- About pulmonary hypertension, Pulmonary Hypertension Association
- What is pulmonary hypertension? by the American Thoracic Society
Sleep Medicine
- What is obstructive sleep apnea in adults? by the American Thoracic Society
- Healthy sleep in adults by the American Thoracic Society
- Sleep problems in asthma and COPD by the American Thoracic Society
- Nicole Harf, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, Nurse Manager, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Stacie Harrison, Team Leader, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Lindsey Jones, RN-BC Clinical Leader, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Andrea Hadcock, Practice Manager, University Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
- Fatima Mere, RN, Nurse Manager, University Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
- Sarcoidosis Clinic Program, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Asthma Clinic Program, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Cystic Fibrosis Program, Physician’s Office Building Suite 503
- Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic Program, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)
- Sleep Clinic Program, Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC) and University Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
- Interstitial Lung Disease Program (ILD), Upstate Health Care Center (UHCC)" and University Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
- Lung Cancer & Thoracic Oncology Program (TOP), Upstate University Hospital
Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Service
Our Palliative Care program offers our patients an inpatient consult service in which our expert team of physicians, advanced practice nurses, social workers, and spiritual care leaders come together with your hospital care team. Our range of end-of-life services include:
- Helping you and your family navigate your condition, providing education about what is going on with your illness and what you can expect in the near future.
- Helping you manage your difficult symptoms.
- Communicating with all your healthcare professionals, so they know how to best serve you.
To learn more about our Inpatient Palliative Care Consult service, click here.
Adult Outpatient Palliative Care Consult Service at the Cancer Center
Our dedicated and skilled team of physicians, advanced practice nurses, social workers, and spiritual caregivers provide our Cancer Center patients with the following services:
- Family education regarding your disease and prognosis.
- Advanced care planning.
- Help managing difficult symptoms.
- Complete care coordination.
To learn more about our Adult Outpatient Palliative Care Consult service, click here.
To schedule an appointment, please call your pulmonary and critical care and sleep medicine provider directly. A referral must have been placed prior to scheduling your appoitnment, if you are going to be considered a new patient. You can contact the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University directly by emailing us at DeptMedicine@upstate.edu to find out more.
