| Medicine
Acclaimed
as one of the premier medical departments in the country,
physicians
in the Department of Medicine have achieved
international recognition for pioneering research and important
clinical applications. A number of physicians in this Department
have received prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH)
grants supporting both clinical and basic research programs.
Research and referral areas in the Department’s thirteen divisions include:
Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
 Allergic and
Other Immune-mediated Diseases
We offer a comprehensive medical approach to difficult diagnostic
and therapeutic problems in the following areas:
— Allergic and
other types of rhinitis
— Angioedema
— Asthma
— Drug reactions
— Immunologic
assessment
— Immunologic
deficiencies (non HIV)
— Urticaria
In addition, we are currently conducting clinical studies in the
evaluation and/or treatment of severe food allergy, asthma, urticaria, and immunodeficiency.
Division of Cardiology
Comprehensive
Cardiac Evaluation through The Heart Center
The hallmarks of our center are our recognized programs which
offer comprehensive cardiac care for adults. These services range
from noninvasive diagnostic evaluation to interventional treatments
such as electrophysiology studies, cardiac catheterization and
angioplasty.
Treatment
of Heart Failure
This program,
which was started in 1991, is aimed at the advanced treatment
of patients with heart failure and heart muscle degeneration. We are recognized as one of the leading facilities
in the world, offering access to investigational drug therapies
and diagnostic techniques not available to other medical centers.
Heart
Transplantation Program
This program is one of the most successful transplant programs
in the United States with one of the best survival statistic rates.
The Heart Transplant program is run jointly with the Heart Failure
program in order to provide the most comprehensive care possible
to patients with heart failure and heart muscle disease.
Division
of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
Drug
Toxicity
Diagnosis and management, including drug screens, drug analysis
and clinical management of overdoses and poisonings.
Hypertension
Management of refractory and secondary forms of hypertension.
Drug
Research
Development and testing of new pharmacologic agents, preclinical
through Phase IV. Design, execution and monitoring of clinical
trials. Pharmacokinetics of antiviral and antifungal agents. Development
of stereoselective drug separation.
Implant
of Fetal Brain Tissue for Treatment of Parkinson’s
Disease
Autonomic
Dysfunction
Diagnosis and management of autonomic dysfunction causing chronic
orthostatic hypotension.
Therapy for
HIV Infection
Division
of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes
Thyroid
Nationally recognized referral center for thyroid diseases,
including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, and
genetic thyroid disorders. Multidisciplinary Thyroid Tumor
Program, specializing in the management of thyroid cancer,
including advanced and metastatic disease.
Pituitary
Disorders
Nationally recognized referral center for provocative testing,
diagnosis, medical and surgical management of pituitary and hypothalamic
tumors.
Diabetes
Center of Excellence utilizing multidisciplinary team approach to
diabetes management for all adults with Type 1 and Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome. American Diabetes
Association Recognized diabetes education program. Strong
emphasis on prevention. Focus on comprehensive approach to
control of glucose, blood pressure and lipid disorders to prevent
nephropathy, retinopathy neuropathy, amputations and cardiovascular
disease. Extensive experience with insulin pump initiation
and management. Inpatient Diabetes Management Team
emphasizing tight glucose control in hospitalized patients to
improve outcomes.
Lipids
Nationally recognized referral center for the diagnosis, management and research of complex disorders of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
Obesity
Nationally recognized program for management and research in
obesity and nutritional disorders. Strong emphasis on prevention,
evaluation and management through lifestyle modification.
Extensive experience in medical and surgical management of
obesity.
Metabolic
Bone and Parathyroid Diseases
Diagnosis, management and research in metabolic bone diseases
such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism
and Paget's Disease.
Adrenal, Gonadal and Reproductive Disorders
Provocative/diagnostic testing; medical and surgical management
of disorders of the hypothalamus, pituitary, gonadal and
adrenal axes.
Division
of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Chronic Gastrointestinal
(GI) Disorders
Consultative and/or continuing clinical evaluation, including
study of functional and inflammatory bowel diseases, unusually
aggressive or refractory peptic diseases and chronic pancreatitis,
motility disorders, and unexplained GI bleeding.
Inflammatory Bowel
Disease
Diagnosis, innovative medical therapy, clinical investigation.
Diagnostic
and Therapeutic Endoscopy
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, colonoscopy and
polypectomy, sclerosis and banding of esophageal varices, nonsurgical
placement of gastrostomy feeding tubes, and endoscopic ultrasound.
Hepatic
and Biliary Diseases
Consultative and/or continuing clinical management of liver and
biliary tract disease, including viral hepatitis. Specific areas
of interest include: hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary
sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic liver disease, end-stage liver
disease, and transplantation.
Gastrointestinal
Cancer
Consultative and/or continuing clinical evaluation and treatment,
including colon, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, rectum and
small intestinal tumors. Multidisciplinary program of the University
of Colorado Health Sciences Center Cancer Center.
Hepatic
Transplantation
Evaluation of candidates, pre-operative and post-operative care,
management of patients with prior hepatic transplant, and interpretation of liver biopsies. Evaluation and treatment of complications of immuno-suppressive therapy, and living donor
liver transplantation.
Immunologic
Deficiency Diseases with
GI Manifestions
Evaluation and treatment, including Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS).
Intestinal
Motility Disorders
Diagnosis and specific testing includes, among other methods,
motility and 24-hour pH monitoring for reflux in esophageal disorders,
radionuclide emptying studies for gastric disorders, sphincter
of Oddi manometry for biliary disorders and anorectal manometry
for defecation disorders.
Laser
Photocoagulation
Treatment of refractory gastrointestinal bleeding and as palliation
of obstructing tumors.
Division of Geriatrics
Primary Care of Persons Aged 70 and Older
Care is provided by board-certified physicians with added qualifications in geriatrics and a geriatric nurse practitioner. Emphasis is on
preventive care.
Interdisciplinary
Evaluation of Elderly Persons
Evaluation of those with complex interacting problems, utilizing
a social worker, pharmacist and psychologist.
Consultations
on Problematic Issues
Issues such as memory loss, falls, urinary incontinence and polypharmacy.
Division of Hematology
Hematologic
Diseases
Consultative and clinical evaluation, including anemias, white
blood cell, platelet disorders and paraproteinemias.
Hematologic
Malignancies
Including leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic
syndromes.
Comprehensive
Care of Adults With Sickle Cell Disease
Care takes place at the Colorado Sickle Cell Treatment and Research
Center.
Hemophilia
and Other Hereditary Coagulation and Bleeding Disorders
Hemochromatosis, hypercoagulable disorders, and heparininduced
thrombocytopenia.
Vitamin
B12 and Folic Acid Deficiencies and Evaluation of Hyperhomocysteinemia
Division of Infectious Diseases
Comprehensive
Primary Care of Persons with
HIV Infection
The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center HIV/AIDS
Clinical Program is patient-centered and multidisciplinary to provide
comprehensive primary care with on-site consultants in
Mental Health, Nutrition, Oncology, Endocrinology, OB-GYN, and
Social Work. The program also includes urgent care, inpatient
care, infusion therapy, inhalational treatments, immunizations,
and an on-site Infectious Diseases Pharmacy. Cutting-edge therapy
is also available through the NIH Colorado AIDS Clinical
Trials Unit (ACTU).
Infectious Disease Consultation
The division provides rapid and effective outpatient and inpatient
consultation for complex infectious disorders, including infections
in older adults, patients with diabetes, cancer, organ and
marrow transplantation, hospital-acquired infections, sexuallytransmitted
diseases, and chronic and challenging infections.
We provide timely and confidential evaluation and management
of occupational and other exposures to HIV, Hepatitis B, and
Hepatitis C.
International Travelers Health Service
State-of-the-art recommendations, immunizations, and other
therapies by experienced staff to prevent infections while traveling
outside the United States and to diagnose and treat illnesses
that develop after travel.
Division of General Internal Medicine
Adult
General Medical Care
Including health risk assessment and comprehensive continuity
care as primary care physicians.
Difficult
Hypertension
Diagnosis and management is provided utilizing the latest medical
techniques, including continuous ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
(similar to a Holter monitor).
Osteoporosis
Several providers are interested and knowledgeable in this important
field. Comprehensive plans for prevention, diagnosis and treatment
are available.
Annual
Physical Examination Health Assessment
Keeping
patients healthy is a major goal of our practice. We promote a healthy
lifestyle which includes exercise, diet, smoking cessation,
stress management, screening for early disease, and appropriate
immunizations.
Women's
Health
Health issues of both young and older women are addressed. These
include issues of contraception, hormone replacement for menopausal
women, and pelvic exams with pap smears. We emphasize breast exams
for prevention and self care.
Pre-operative
Risk Assessment and Post-operative
Medical Care and Follow Up
A well-trained team provides pre-operative assessment and evaluation
as well as close post-operative follow ups to ensure successful
outcomes.
Adult Urgent Care
Same day/next day appointments for evaluation and treatment of
common medical urgencies such as sore throats, urinary tract infections,
sinusitis, sprains/strains and upper respiratory tract infections.
Assessment
and Treatment of Anxiety and
Depression
Diagnosis and management of these common disorders are provided
by primary care internists with special training and expertise
in these important areas.
Diabetes
Management
A team of providers (physicians, foot care specialists, nurses,
nutritionist, nurse practitioner) provide comprehensive assessment,
training, and follow up.
Difficult
Diagnosis
Several experienced, knowledgeable internists with background
and board certification in several subspecialty areas are available
to assess patients with puzzling symptoms.
Management
of Geriatric Issues
Comprehensive medical evaluations and care are provided by internists
with experience and certification in geriatrics.
Risk
Factor Reduction
Managing patients with high cholesterol and other risk factors
for heart disease and stroke is an important aspect of our practice.
Anticoagulation
Management
A multidisciplinary team of nurses, physicians and pharmacists
help insure excellent management of coumadin and other blood thinners.
Executive Health Evaluation
A comprehensive day-long evaluation provided in one location with all ancillary services available. The individual receives a personalized assessment and plan with follow up state-of-the-art technology is available, such as the ultrafast CT of the heart for detection of early coronary heart disease.
The Hospitalist Medical Group
The Hospitalist Medical Group at the University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center Hospital provides exceptional quality
patient care while advancing the science of hospital medicine
through a commitment to education and research. Hospitalist
Medical members provide care to patients in the hospital setting
only as experts in hospital based medical issues.
Palliative Care Consult Service
A team of faculty physicians, all with significant hospice and palliative
care experience, provide compassionate consultation for
patients with advanced illness and their families via the
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Hospital Palliative
Care Consult Service. Third year internal medicine residents participate
in the PC consult service as a component of their
required rotations.
Hospice/Palliative Care Research Network
The Division of General Internal Medicine is home to the nation’s
only hospice/palliative care research network, the Populationbased
Palliative Care Research Network (PoPCRN –
http://www.uchsc.edu/popcrn). The Population.based Palliative
Care Research Network (POPCRN) consists of more than 281
hospices and permits the conduct of multi-site studies of end-of-life
care, addressing operational as well as clinical issues.
Division of Medical Oncology
Clinical services and research programs in the Division of Medical
Oncology are part of the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center Cancer Center.
AIDS
Malignancies
Subspecialist care for HIV-infected patients with AIDS-defining
and other cancers and/or hematologic problems is fully integrated
with the multidisciplinary Infectious Disease Clinic focus on HIV
and AIDS patients at University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center Hospital. State-of-the-art
evaluation and treatment includes access to studies sponsored by
the NCI AIDS Malignancies Consortium, the University of Colorado
Health
Sciences Center Cancer Center and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Second opinions
and new consultations are discussed at the interdisciplinary University
of Colorado Health
Sciences Center Hospital Tumor Board.
Breast
Clinic
Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and
benign breast disorders. Women with benign breast disease are evaluated
and treated in a multidisciplinary setting that includes surgery,
imaging (mammography, digital mammography, ultrasound, MRI and
stereotactic biopsy) and pathologic evaluation. Women with cancer
are offered treatment in all stages of disease. Appropriate patients
are offered treatment on experimental studies offered by physicians
at the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center Cancer Center or the Southwest Oncology
Group. New patients are reviewed weekly at a conference attended
by medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists,
radiologists and pathologists.
Blood
and Marrow Transplantation
All types of transplants, including autologous and allogeneic
transplants for lymphomas, leukemias, multiple myeloma, germ
cell tumors and bone marrow failure disorders and auto-immune
diseases. In addition, phase I experimental therapies in conjunction
with blood and marrow transplants are offered.
Cutaneous
Lymphomas
Research protocols for treatment in concert with the Dermatology
Department.
Experimental
Therapeutics
Consultative clinic in which novel approaches to cancer treatment
including compounds, antibodies, and gene therapy are explained
to patients. Patients who qualify for specific protocols and are
willing to take part in studies of new agents will be enrolled
in these studies.
Gastrointestinal
Oncology Multispecialty Clinic
Consultative and continuing clinical evaluation and treatment,
including colon, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, rectum and
small intestinal tumors. Staging and treatment, including availability
of experimental protocols from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Cancer
Center as well as the Southwest Oncology Group.
Genitourinary
Cancer (Prostate)
Innovative trials and state-of-the-art care offered in a multidisciplinary
clinic attended by medical oncologists, urologists and radiation
therapists. Each patient case is reviewed by more than six physicians,
some with international reputations in prostate cancer biology
and treatment.
Head and Neck
Cancer
A multispecialty approach to patients with head and neck cancer
with an emphasis on available experimental protocols from the Southwest
Oncology Group as well as the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Cancer Center.
Research protocols looking at organ preservation protocols.
Hematologic
Malignancies
There is major interest in the Oncology Division in the Hematologic
Malignancies. At the basic research level, Division Members have
made fundamental discoveries in the causes of acute leukemia.Close collaboration between medical oncology,
radiation oncology and the BMT program are central to the clinic.
At the clinical level, new agents are being tested in chronic
myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML),
myelomas and lymphomas. Molecular reagents are also being
tested for the monitoring of minimal residual disease in both
acute and chronic leukemias, myelomas and lymphomas. A combined Hematologic Malignancies/Blood and Marrow Transplant
Clinic is available to see patients with all forms of leukemia, lymphoma
and myeloma and to offer investigational and new drug
protocols to patients. Southwest Oncology group trials are also
available. A Second Opinion Clinic for all forms of hematologic
malignancies is also available.
Please see separate section regarding Blood and Marrow
Transplant services.
Hereditary
Cancer Clinic
A multidisciplinary clinic for the evaluation of individuals and/or
families who may have an inherited risk for cancer.
Lung
Cancer
Staging and treatment, including availability of experimental
protocols in association with the National Cancer Institute, Lung
Cancer Study Group, Southwest Oncology Group, SPORE in Lung Cancer
and a number of biologic agents.
Malignant
Melanoma
The UCHSC Melanoma Research Clinic is one of the largest melanoma
clinics in the country. It is a multidisciplinary clinic with the
participation of medical oncologists, dermatologists, Mohs surgeons,
plastic surgeons, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists,
dermatopathologists and neurosurgeons dedicated to providing state-of-the-art
care to melanoma patients, utilizing the latest techniques for
the diagnosis, staging and treatment of melanoma. Conventional
and experimental approaches to therapy are available for every
stage of disease, many of which are unique to the UCHSC Melanoma
Research Clinic.
Neuro-Oncology
A Multidisciplinary Clinic. Diagnosis and treatment, including
availability of experimental protocols in association with the
Southwest Oncology Group and a number of University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center Cancer Center sponsored protocols.
Oncology
Support Services
Support includes Social Workers, Psychologists, Chaplains, Patient
Representatives, Home Care Coordinators, Nurse Managers, Clinical
Nurse Specialists, as well as Inpatient, Prostate, Post-Bone Marrow,
Breast Melanoma, and Brain Tumor Support Groups.
Second
Opinion Clinics in Various Specialties
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine
Advanced
Chronic Pulmonary Diseases
Management through pulmonary rehabilitation
service, including emphysema, cystic fibrosis and
interstitial lung diseases.
Section of Critical Care Medicine
Trials of new pharmacologic agents and support modalities.
Genetic
Lung Disease Center
Primarily adult cystic fibrosis, alpha1antitrypsin deficiency.
Emphysema
Surgery Center
In collaboration with Thoracic Surgery.
Interstitial Lung Disease
Lung Transplantation
Center
Pulmonary Hypertension Center
Sleep Lab provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment
of all sleep disorders
Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension
Acute
Renal Failure
Referral center for evaluation and management.
Diabetic
Nephropathy
Referral center for management and study of progression.
Dialysis
Acute, chronic and home dialysis programs for both hemodialysis
and peritoneal dialysis.
Hypertension
Referral, including workup and management of patients with renovascular
and renoparenchymal hypertension.
Plasmapheresis
Treatment of immunological, neurologic and hematological diseases. Polycystic
Kidney Disease
Diagnostic workup, genetic counseling and long-term management.
Primary
Renal Disease
Referral center for dialysis and transplantation evaluation. Multidisciplinary
diagnosis and treatment, including extensive immunological workup,
in cooperation with the Divisions of Rheumatology and Immunology;
and renal biopsy, in cooperation with the Department of Pathology.
Renal
Metabolic Imbalances
Management of electrolyte imbalances and acid-base problems, including
abnormal water metabolism, severe refractory hypokalemia and severe
recurrent metabolic acidosis.
Transplantation
Post-operative and long-term management of transplant-related
problems.
Division of Rheumatology
Arthritis Conditions. Evaluation and treatment of patients with
complex or unusual forms of arthritis, including but not limited
to:
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus
Systemic
Sclerosis (Scleroderma)
Other
Autoimmune Diseases
Treatment
Protocols Utilizing New/Experimental
Therapies
Full
Reference Laboratory
Diagnosis of rheumatic disorders, including anti-nuclear antibodies
(ANA), ANA profile, rheumatoid factor and other specific antibodies.
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