Bringing a Collaborative Model of Care to New York City

Mount Sinai – National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute

The collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in its first full year brought the National Jewish Health approach to patient-centered care to New York City with the opening of the Mount Sinai – National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute.

In 2016, the Respiratory Institute moved into expanded space on the Mount Sinai Hospital campus, meeting the needs of growing numbers of New Yorkers. In its first full year, the program had about 18,000 patient visits, and that number continues to grow. The relationship creates a strong, integrated program for diagnosis and treatment of respiratory illness and lung disease, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and interstitial lung disease.

The Respiratory Institute uses the multidisciplinary approach practiced by National Jewish Health in its outpatient programs. Pulmonologists collaborate with specialists in related disciplines, including cardiology, allergy, gastroenterology, rheumatology, ENT and thoracic surgery, to provide team-based, patient-centered care. The Respiratory Institute also draws on Mount Sinai’s programs in personalized medicine, genomics and data-driven clinical protocols to enhance the quality and outcomes of the respiratory disease practice.

Respiratory Institute leadership includes Charles Powell, MD, the Janice and Coleman Rabin professor of medicine, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, serving as the CEO. Louis DePalo, MD, the Lane associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, serves as the clinical director. Richard Martin, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine and Edelstein Chair in Pulmonary Medicine at National Jewish Health, led the effort to create protocols and plans for care at the Respiratory Institute and continues to serve in a guiding role as part of the Respiratory Institute Board of Directors.

Focus on Training the Next Generation of Accomplished Researchers and Physicians

A long relationship with the University of Colorado School of Medicine has benefited both clinical and research training. Medical students, residents and postgraduate fellows at the University of Colorado School of Medicine all spend time at National Jewish Health during their training. Postgraduate fellows often spend an extra year devoted exclusively to research, which is a component of launching a successful academic career. They work with established investigators who offer insight and guidance to help their research succeed.

In addition, National Jewish Health physicians and researchers continue to collaborate with physicians and researchers at the University of Colorado on specific programs and projects. They also rely upon each other for various consultations in the course of treating a variety of illnesses.

Pediatric Reach Grows with Collaboration

Our collaboration extends to our Department of Pediatrics. A year ago, we began working with Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, a part of the HealthONE system. National Jewish Health provides protocols and staff to run a respiratory care program for children at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

More children are benefiting from National Jewish Health pediatric expertise thanks to the agreement. National Jewish Health for Kids provides diagnostic and treatment services for a variety of diseases, including allergy, asthma, atopic dermatitis and immune deficiencies. Care is provided on site at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, and is coordinated through National Jewish Health physicians. In addition, National Jewish Health for Kids physicians provide “on-call” service for emergency and inpatient needs for other HealthONE facilities throughout Colorado needing pediatric consultations