Inova Lung Services — Programs and Services — Inpatient Support Programs — Acute Pulmonary Unit (APU)

Acute Pulmonary Unit (APU)

The Acute Pulmonary Unit is a 24-bed specialty inpatient unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital that provides specialized nursing care for adult patients with complications of chronic respiratory disease. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer
• Pneumonia
• Pre-transplant evaluation for lung transplant
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Pulmonary emphysema
• Other diseases affecting the lungs

This type of specialized respiratory unit is a rarity in American medicine. Our treatment focuses on aggressive medical management by a multidisciplinary team, to move patients through the continuum of care to discharge. When acute inpatient care is no longer required, the APU discharges patients to the community – whether home, acute, or skilled nursing. Prior to discharge, patients receive comprehensive education regarding their illness to promote wellness, facilitate a smooth transition to outpatient care and improve the patient’s overall quality of life. Our team includes pulmonary and internal medicine physicians and a multidisciplinary team of nurses, respiratory therapists and case managers.