Pulmonary Medicine

Specializing in the Diagnosis and Treatment
of Lung Diseases and Sleep Disorders

Pulmonary Medicine Specialists

Comprehensive Pulmonological Care

CLS Health is committed to delivering excellent patient care by implementing up-to-date medical knowledge and best practices. We believe in continuing growth as individuals and as a group and delivering comprehensive quality care to our patients. There are many new advances in the treatment and prevention of lung diseases, such as screening for lung cancer and recognizing COPD and pulmonary fibrosis in the early stages. We provide a well-rounded approach using evidence-based medicine and excellent follow-up care. With strong ties to the local hospitals, we are also able to manage our patients with exceptional continuity of care both in and out of the hospital. This personalized approach provides our patients with comfort and quality care throughout the treatment and recovery process.

Pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine physicians evaluate a broad spectrum of chest and sleep disorders.

Our physicians also are on staff at the local hospitals, which allows for continuity of care for our patients who are admitted to the inpatient floor and ICU (intensive care unit).

Ways to Schedule an Appointment

Conditions and Treatments

Conditions our Pulmonologists Diagnose and Treat

  • Asthma
  • COPD (Emphysema)
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Lung Cancer
  • Lung Diseases Caused by Working Conditions
  • Lung Infections (e.g., Fungal Infections)
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Shortness of Breath and Difficulty With Breathing
  • Cough
  • Abnormal Chest X-ray/Lung Imaging
  • Screening for Lung Cancer

Lung and Sleep Specialists

CLS Health logo

Amanda Wilke, NP

Hospitalist, Pulmonary & Critical Care

Administration Office

Omar Albustami

Omar M. Albustami, MD

Pulmonary

Webster Clinic

Luigi Terminella, MD

Luigi Terminella, MD

Hospitalist, Pulmonary & Critical Care

Administration Office

Emran Atherah, MD

Emran Atherah, MD

Hospitalist, Pulmonary & Critical Care

Administration Office

Muhammad Baba

Mohammad J. Baba, MD, FCCP

Hospitalist, Pulmonary & Critical Care

Administration Office

Regina Pillai

Regina R. Pillai, MD

Pulmonary

Webster Clinic

Mahmood Dweik, MD

Mahmood O. Dweik, MD

Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care, Hospitalist

Administration Office

Schedule An Appointment Today!

You can book appointments through our secure patient portal, or call our customer service center at281-724-8180.

When you choose to be cared for by CLS Health providers, you can have peace of mind knowing that all aspects of your care are coordinated. Using secure electronic medical records, your CLS Health primary care physicians and pulmonary specialists will have visibility into any test results or treatment plans. This seamless integration allows us to provide comprehensive, personalized care right when you need it.

Find Out If CLS Health Is In-Network With Your Insurance

CLS Health Insurance Information

At CLS Health, we serve patients with many types of insurance coverage, offered by many different companies and entities. CLS and its providers accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most major health plans; outlined on our insurance information page. Remember to always check with your health insurance carrier regarding specific covered services. The list grows and changes frequently. If you don’t see your insurance listed or if you have any questions, please contact us.

Pulmonary FAQ

What are the risk factors for lung disease?
  • Age – Lung infections are most common in the elderly and very young
  • Smoking – Lung diseases such as bronchitis, lung cancer, and emphysema are increased in people who smoke. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
  • Exposure to certain chemicals – Exposure to chemicals such as asbestos and other gases increases your risk of developing lung diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.
  • Air pollution – Exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust fumes, nitrogen oxides, dust, gases, and pollen leads to a higher risk of developing lung disease. Exposure to these pollutants is especially common in professions such as baking, woodwork, and chemical production.
  • Family history – If you have a family history of lung cancer or asthma, your risk of developing the condition is increased.
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term disease that prevents a person from breathing properly due to excess mucus or the degeneration of the lungs.
What causes pneumonia?
Pneumonia may be caused by viral infections, bacterial infections, or fungi.
How do I promote good lung health?
One of the most effective ways to promote good lung health is to avoid smoking cigarettes. According to the CDC, those who smoke are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
  • A cough that does not go away or gets worse
  • Chest pain when breathing deeply, coughing, or laughing
  • Hoarseness
  • Weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Coughing up blood
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, that do not go away
  • Wheezing
What procedures does a pulmonologist perform?
Procedures that are conducted by our pulmonologists include sleep studies, pulmonary stress testing, bronchoscopy, and pulmonary function testing.

  • Pulmonary Function Testing: This includes spirometry, lung volume by body plethysmograph, diffusion capacity, and flow-volume curves.
  • Six-minute walk test: Useful also for the diagnosis of shortness of breath and assessment of oxygen need
  • Fully attended one or two-night polysomnography (PSG) or sleep study: This is the test for obstructive sleep apnea. We have a fully functioning sleep lab with sleep study appointments readily available.
  • Multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT). Diagnostic tool for narcolepsy.
What is a bronchoscopy?
A bronchoscope is a thin, flexible, lighted tube with a camera at one end. It is inserted through the nose (or mouth in some cases) so that pulmonologists can visually inspect the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and airways. Patients are usually sedated but not “put to sleep” for a bronchoscopy procedure, which can be used to both diagnose and treat lung conditions.

As a diagnostic instrument, the bronchoscope allows pulmonologists to both visualize pathology (changes in the airway due to disease) and take samples that can be looked at under a microscope.

Samples may be taken to confirm a diagnosis, such as cancer, or to help narrow down possible diagnoses. As a therapeutic instrument, the bronchoscope allows pulmonologists to deliver medications directly to the lungs, remove secretions that are causing blockages, cauterize bleeding blood vessels, and remove obvious anomalies.

Though bronchoscopy has been in use for decades, it has been continually refined and updated to improve its capabilities. At one point, bronchoscopy could only be used to investigate the large airways, leaving 90% of the lungs out of reach. The latest bronchoscopes employ radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), navigation bronchoscopy, and virtual bronchoscopy to make it possible for pulmonologists to investigate 100% of the lung tissue as well as some of the associated tissues that lie just beyond the lungs.

What is Pulmonary Function Testing?
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are used to help diagnose lung conditions like asthma, muscular dystrophy, and diseases caused by exposure to toxins. Pulmonary function tests are minimally invasive and require only that patients be able to cooperate and follow directions. The results of a PFT, which are interpreted by a pulmonologist, can provide information that can be used to both diagnose lung conditions and help manage them. PFTs can be performed on almost anyone.