Re: National Jewish Health Center

[Guest guest]

Stefani

While I think the Center of Excellence designation is representative of

quite a bit including specialization, knowledge, cooperation with others

and a jointly determined protocol and all theoretically would perform

the same, the ability to execute and just the individual skills of the

doctors may vary. We have quite a few here who have gone to National

Jewish and been extremely pleased. Based on that if it was even nearly

as close to me as some of the others, I'd be very tempted. I'm a huge

fan of Duke. We have quite a few who have been to Penn. We have several

who have been to Emory but only time will tell if its the same with the

's gone. There are some of the more recent additions that I believe

are on a great path but still lag a bit behind those that have been at

it longer.

But thats a value we have here of patients with familiarity of different

facilities and doctors. On the other hand personal preferences and

connections come into play as do our feelings on some specific issues.

That said, I think you'll be very happy with National Jewish. I wish we

had a broader sampling of some of the others. For instance, I have never

known anyone who went to Yale and I'm on more than just this forum. The

doctor who heads that program there too seems focused from what I know

just on ILD accompanied by a Connective Tissue Disease.

>

> Dyane -

>

> Rest assured, the entire staff at National Jewish is fantastic!! From

the people who do the blood gas tests, the 6 minute walk tests, the

pulmonary function test, the exercise tolerance tests, the barium

swallow tests and the ultrasound of the heart. They are all absolutely

great. I am so glad I went there. My reason for selecting National

Jewish out of the 22 centers of excellence was purely proximity to Salt

Lake City. I suspect that all if the NIH endorsed members of the IPFNET

are equally as good. They are so thorough, honest and considerate. I

have contacts with the doctors, oxygen therapist, and rehab exercise

personnel at National Jewish. I am trying to do as much as I can in

Salt Lake, but there is much lacking locally, except for the pulmonary

rehab at the University of Utah. I have joined a study group on

exercise for PF patients as well as the genetic studies research here in

Utah. The University of Utah is a member of the IPFNET from the

research standpoint.

>

> You will find your visit to Denver very rewarding.

>

> Best of luck,

>

> Stefani 61 year old Utahn

> ILD 2/2006, NSIP (cellular) 6/2009, UIP 9/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006,

Sleep Apnea 4/2009

>