LUNG CARE CENTER
MARTHA FOSTER
LUNG CARE CENTER
Sometimes, the power of one grateful patient is
the spark that ignites the enthusiasm for a program
or service that ultimately touches and improves the
lives of thousands of individuals. Martha Foster,
a legendary Dallas children’s clothing entrepreneur,
was one such patient. Challenged with pulmonary
issues, Foster received care at Baylor Dallas.
Her gratitude and generous donation planted
the seed for the Martha Foster Lung Care Center.
Mark Millard, MD, medical director, explained
that bringing all of the resources a patient might
need together in one location enhances the
experience. “We provide a one-stop shop for
patients with lung issues. Our mission is to
obtain an accurate diagnosis and provide the
appropriate resources to best meet the patient’s
needs. We provide more diagnostic capabilities in
one place than any other facility in North Texas.
All of our respiratory therapists are certified asthma
educators. We also have imaging, rehab services
and support services. All of this distinguishes our
approach to lung care from others.”
Asthma comprises the largest patient population
followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis.
In addition to diagnosis and care, the Martha
Foster Lung Care Center provides medical
education for pulmonary Fellows and
opportunities for patients to participate in
clinical trials and research studies. “Thanks to
the Wanda and Collins Burton Endowed Chair
in Pulmonology, we have a full time investigator
who initiates studies in both asthma and COPD,”
said Dr. Millard. “We completed some asthma
biological trials that examined new medicines
to treat the disease. We are looking forward to
participating in a large clinical trial focused on
the early diagnosis of COPD using data from
various databases. In years past, we enabled the
Dallas Independent School District to become
the first urban school district to provide in-school
monitoring with peak flow meters, a program
that spread nationally to touch the lives of over
one million children with asthma. We continue
to sponsor and host one-day asthma camps for
children, and are working on projects in COPD
to improve the quality of life and activity of those
afflicted with it.”
“Our job is to get the patient better and return
them to the care of their primary care physician,”
explained Dr. Millard. “We approach the patient
experience as a partnership between patient,
staff and physicians working to get the patient’s
condition under control and then back into the
mainstream of his/her life.”
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