Chest Clinic

The chest clinic provides care to children in the Maritimes who have respiratory or breathing conditions.

How we help

Children are referred to the chest clinic by a physician for assessment, teaching, and recommended treatments for conditions such as asthma, PCD (Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia), sleep disordered breathing or bronchiectasis. 

To fully prepare for your child’s visit, please be sure to bring along: 

• your child's health card
• your appointment letter
• a List of medications
• any medications needed during your visit
• name and telephone number of your referring physician and/or family physician
• health insurance information
• a list of questions you and/or your child may have for the physician. Also, remember to ask for any instructions from the doctor or letters of medical necessity that you may need for school our your child's family physicians/pediatrician.
• books, games, snacks (peanut free), diapers, change of baby clothes, or other necessities.

Who you’ll meet

The chest clinic team works together with you and your child to provide information and support so you can feel confident caring for your child's lung or breathing condition at home. Our team members include the following professionals.

Administrative staff
They'll most likely be your first contact with our clinic and will help in setting up your appointment, registering your child and getting their height and weight, and helping to make your visit to the chest clinic a positive one.

Respirologist
Your child will be seen by a physician (respirologist) who has specialized training in lung and breathing conditions.

Resident Specialist
Our service often have doctors in training who may see your child before the respirologist.

Nurse
There's a chest clinic nurse who's available to your family for teaching and support in managing your child's medical condition. The clinic nurse offers asthma education sessions for children and families. The clinic also offers group sessions for teens with asthma called TEAM (Teens Empowered in Asthma Management). These sessions are organized by the clinic nurse and social worker.

Respiratory Therapists
If your child is having a pulmonary function test (PFT) during their clinic visit, the test will be done by a respiratory therapist. Their job is to coach and support your child through the PFT.

Polysomnographer (sleep tech)
If your child is having a sleep study done you'll have contact with a sleep tech who'll support you and your child in getting ready for and having a sleep study done along with any follow up that may be needed.

Social Worker
A social worker is available to your family, if needed, for support and help in coping with the care of a child with a health condition.