The Pulmonary Department evaluates a broad spectrum of chest diseases ­ with the most common problems being asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), abnormal chest X-rays, shortness-of-breath and chronic cough.

Palo Alto Clinic
795 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Second Floor, Lee Building
Department phone: 650-853-2976
Main phone: 650-321-4121
Map | Directions | Floor Plan

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Dublin Center
4050 Dublin Blvd
Dublin, CA 94568-3112
Main phone: 925-875-6100
Map | Directions

Call for an appointment.

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"We have a full-service, pulmonary-function laboratory that can measure lung capacity and breathing capabilities in a fairly sophisticated way," Department Head Richard Chalker, M.D.

"We can measure how well a person moves air in and out of the lungs and whether this improves with the use of asthma medications. We can also examine how well the lungs put oxygen into the blood under a variety of conditions, including during exercise, at rest and during airplane travel" through an altitude simulation.

"Most commercial airplane cabins are not pressurized to sea level, but to an altitude of 5,000 to 7,000 feet. By simulating this altitude, we can see whether a patient might require supplemental oxygen during the flight.

"We may also perform blood-gas analysis, where we draw blood from an artery in the wrist to directly measure carbon dioxide, oxygen and acid levels, though more commonly a simple oximeter placed on a finger measures blood oxygen indirectly."

Both Dr. Chalker and his associate, Dr. Judy Huang, are also board certified in internal medicine and critical care medicine, and spend half their time at Stanford Hospital, caring for PAMF patients admitted to the ICU and PAMF non-ICU patients with pulmonary problems.

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