Union County, Blairsville, Georgia Summer 2022 | Page 12

706-745-3103
Page 12 � Union County GA Magazine � Summer 2022
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Union General Pulmonology Associates

Pulmonology is a medical field of study within internal medicine . It deals with the lungs , the blood vessels related to the lungs , and diseaes related to the lungs . A pulmonologist is a physician who specializes in the respiratory system . From the windpipe to the lungs , if the problem involves the lungs or any part of the respiratory system , a pulmonologist is the person to solve the problem .
Union General Heath System ’ s Pulmonolgist is Peter Fort , MD , FCCP , FAASM .
Dr . Fort attended medical school at George Washington University , graduating in 1991 . His internship , residency and fellowship took place at the Lackland Air Force Base Wilford Hall Medical Facility in San Antino .
During college , Fort was a chemistry and biology major . He became a biomedical researcher at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston then became interested in the science of medicine . He finished
By Norm Cooper Editor , Union County GA Magazine his Fellowship in Pulmonology in 1996 and has practiced in the field since that time .
Union General Pulmonology Associates offers services of Thoracentesis , Flexible Bronchoscopy , Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing , and Pulmonary Function Testing ( PFT ), plus others . Treatments offered include COPD , Sleep Apnea , Interstitial Lung Disease , Pulmonary Hypertension , Chronic Respiratory Illness , and others .
“ Pulmonary symptoms are typically cough , shortness of breath , wheezing , congestion , bringing up phlegm , chest pain , and just being really short of breath trying to do any activity ,” said Dr . Fort .
" Time will be spent trying to determine if it is a heart issue , airway disease , lung disease , cancer or some other cause ," said Dr . Fort . " A patient could be prescribed inhaler therapy , another prescribed steroids , and
there are new medications for pulmonary fibrosis and asthma .”
“ It is personalized ,” said Dr . Fort . “ It is patient centered medicine . Whatever is appropriate for the patient is what we do . We provide high quality pulmonary and sleep medicine care .”
Our office is located on the second floor of Union General Hospital . There are no walk-ins .
Everything is done by appointment only . Patients must call 706-835-3699 . Patients must be 18 years of age and older .
For Dr . Fort , the road to Union General began in the western United States for 10 years ( he loves to ski ) and previously in Florida for a
Union General Pulmonologist Dr . Peter Fort
Photo / NormC
decade . He had a house in Idaho and a house in Florida .
Being in private practice , Dr . Fort had to also deal with business matters . He wanted to focus on medicine , not business . Then , COVID arrived and travel between the two locations became difficult . Opportunity led to Fort moving to north Georgia , allowing him to still be in the mountains , and close to Florida .
Union General was seeking a Pulmonolgist and Dr . Fort accepted the position .
Union General Pulmonology Associatesis located on the second floor of Union General Hospital . 35 Hospital Road , Blairsville , GA 706-439-6896 www . UnionGeneralHealthSystem . com

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