Frequently Asked Questions
We want to ensure you are comfortable with your treatment at
Pulmonary Group of Central Florida.
Following are answers to frequently asked questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact the office if you have other questions not answered here.
The Pulmonary Group of Central Florida accepts a number of insurance carriers. The updated list is available here.
We are not contracted with Managed Care Plans at this time. If you would still like to receive our services, you will be responsible for the entire cost of these services. Our office staff will be glad to discuss fees for non-covered services with you.
In order to establish you as a patient at PGCF, we will need to obtain your personal information, your primary physician’s information and your medical history as well as the referral from your primary physician, if required by insurance.
We have conveniently placed the new patient forms on our web site for download so that you can complete them before your first appointment. You may fax them to our office prior to your visit, (352) 326-8744.
Please plan to arrive at our office at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment so we can ensure the information is accurate and entered into our database.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma is chronic, meaning that inflammation is always present, even when there are no noticeable symptoms. When provoked by a trigger, the inflammation worsens and the insides of the airways produce extra mucus, swell even more, and the muscles that wrap around the airways may tighten. These changes produce airway obstruction, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing that can lead to asthma attacks. If severe, the symptoms can cause severe shortness of breath and low levels of oxygen in the blood.
The American Lung Association has produced a helpful fact sheet, which you can download, review and print for additional insight into this disease and treatment.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term referring to two lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that are characterized by obstruction to airflow that interferes with normal breathing. Both of these conditions frequently co-exist, hence physicians prefer the term COPD. It does not include other obstructive diseases such as asthma.
The American Lung Association has produced a helpful fact sheet that you can download, review and print for additional insight into COPD.
Sleep-disordered breathing is a group of disorders characterized by breathing difficulties while sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type and is defined as repeated narrowing of the throat, either partially or totally blocking the airways during sleep.
This blocking of the airways can cause a person to stop breathing or have problems with breathing for 10 to 20 seconds or longer many times at night. It is not always evident to the patient or to others.
The American Lung Association has produced a helpful fact sheet that you can download, review and print for additional insight into sleep disorders.
Pneumonia is a serious infection and/or inflammation of your lungs. The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching your blood. If there is too little oxygen in your blood, your body cells can’t work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death.
The American Lung Association published a helpful fact sheet on Pneumonia. It is available to download, review and print here.
Sarcoidosis is a disease that causes small areas of inflammation of the body’s tissues. This swelling produces small lumps called granulomas that can be either inside the body or on the outside as sores on the face or shins. Scar tissue forms while the lumps are expanding into groups.
Sarcoidosis can attack any organ and always affects more than one of the body’s systems. Pulmonary sarcoidosis can cause loss of lung volume, which is the amount of air the lungs can hold, and it can cause abnormal lung stiffness.
The American Lung Association’s fact sheet on Sarcoidosis provides helpful information about this disease. Download it here.
Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lung. These abnormal cells form and make it difficult for the lung to work properly.
Smoking is a main cause of lung cancer, contributing to the majority of lung cancer deaths in men and women.
The American Lung Association’s fact sheet on Lung Cancer provides helpful information about this disease. Download it here.
Pulmonary function tests or lung function tests are used to detect lung diseases or to monitor the progression of a particular disease, such as COPD. The tests determine how much air your lungs can hold and how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and how well your lungs put oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. The tests are also used to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working.
If you are having trouble breathing, the pulmonary function test can help the pulmonologist diagnose your condition and identify treatment to ease your breathing.
In the Spring 2009, Pulmonary Group of Central Florida was the first practice in the area to acquire a new, state-of-the-art Pulmonary Function Testing machine that offers greater convenience and accuracy.
The equipment provides more reliable results, quicker and the data is easier for the doctor and staff to review. The PFT machine allows the doctor to collect better quality data with less effort and more comfort for the patient.