HUTCHINSON — In response to a growing need for pulmonary services in south-central and the western regions of Kansas, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center will open Hutchinson Pulmonology Associates in mid-July, a specialty clinic located within the hospital.
Joining the Hutch Regional staff will be Dr. Mohammed Al-Halawani and Dr. Tariq Musa who are slated to see their first patients July 15 in an area of the hospital adjoining the Heart and Vascular Center. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 620-513-4800.
Dr. Al-Halawani and Dr. Musa bring impeccable credentials to their positions at Hutch Regional. Dr. Al-Halawani is board certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine and completed a sleep medicine fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Musa is board certified in internal medicine and trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Ken Johnson, president and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said pulmonology is an area of medicine that focuses on the health of the respiratory system. “Pulmonologists treat everything from asthma to tuberculosis,” Johnson said. “Currently, there are an insufficient number of pulmonologists to serve growing needs in south-central and the western regions of Kansas, and it is our hope that Dr. Al-Halawani and Dr. Musa will help alleviate the shortage.”
Among the most common respiratory ailments are sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More than 18 million Americans are diagnosed with sleep apnea.
“Dr. Al-Halawani’s certification in sleep medicine will be an asset to the Hutch Regional Sleep Center in diagnosing and treating an increasing number of sufferers of this sometimes life-threatening disease,” Johnson said. “COPD is defined as a narrowing of the airway resulting in breathing problems and was the third leading cause of death in 2018.”
Both physicians will reside in Hutchinson and are looking forward to being a part of the community. Additional information on Hutchinson Pulmonology Associates can be found at Hutchregional.com/hpa.
“The opening of Hutchinson Pulmonology Associates is an exciting moment in the history of Hutch Regional as we expand our quality care options in response to the increased needs of those in our service area,” Johnson continued.
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is an entity of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System. Other entities are Horizons Mental Health Center, Health-E-Quip, Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County and Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.
