hengityskeskusten

Hengityskeskusten refers to centers and units dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of diseases and disorders affecting the respiratory system in Finnish healthcare. The term can describe pulmonology departments, sleep medicine centers, and related rehabilitation units that operate within hospitals, university clinics, or specialized private facilities. These centers bring together multidisciplinary teams, including pulmonologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation professionals, to provide comprehensive care for conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, and sleep-disordered breathing.

Services commonly offered at Hengityskeskusten include diagnostic testing (spirometry, diffusion capacity, chest imaging, arterial blood gas analysis), disease management and pharmacotherapy, noninvasive ventilation and supplemental oxygen therapy, bronchoscopic procedures, and pulmonary rehabilitation. They may also coordinate care for acute respiratory failure, provide critical care support when needed, and arrange long-term follow-up and multidisciplinary follow-up plans.

In Finland, facilities delivering Hengityskeskus-style care are typically part of hospital departments of pulmonology or dedicated respiratory care units within university hospitals, with pathways that connect to primary care and rehabilitation services. The concept emphasizes specialized expertise in respiratory health and the coordination of treatment across the continuum of care, from outpatient clinics to inpatient wards.

See also: Pulmonology, Respiratory therapy, Sleep medicine, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Intensive care.