Treatment of sleep disorders is a growing part of pulmonary medicine. Above is a variety of CPAP mask styles used to treat sleep apnea.
diabetes. And I think we are going to continue to find how important sleep really is [to our health].” Beyond sleep apnea, Dr. Kukafka treats patients with insomnia, narcolepsy, cataplexy (a condition in which intense emotions cause a sudden loss of muscle tone) and other sleep problems. He also works with pediatric sleep problems, though he will often consult with a pediatrician for care of children under the age of 12. A link between children who snore and attention deficit disorders is currently being explored by a number of sleep medicine professionals. Fitzgerald worked with Kukafka previously and says following him to McKee was an easy choice. “We have an experienced staff that has made for a very smooth transition,” says Fitzgerald. He has been a nurse practitioner in the field of pulmonary and sleep medicine for more than eight years. He works strictly within the clinic, managing the continuity of care for their patients and is particularly skilled at troubleshooting problems that patients may have with their CPAP machines, devices that help patients with sleep apnea sleep more soundly. He also helps patients with insomnia to sleep better using cognitive behavioral therapy. As science continues to explore pulmonary and sleep health challenges, Drs. Kukafka and Nallamothu look forward to advances in several areas. Within the realm of sleep medicine, Dr. Kukafka says home sleep studies will increase. Currently, about 80 percent of sleep studies are done in the lab. He predicts that that number will drop to 50 percent, with the other half of studies performed within the individual’s home. Dr. Kukafka and his team are also working to bring more lung cancer surgeries to McKee. It is an exciting time for Drs. Kukafka and Nallamothu as they lead McKee’s new pulmonary clinic. “We have great support from Banner and McKee is a gem – I am so happy to be leading the pulmonary clinic here. This is a very personable place and we are small enough that we can really provide personal care,” says Dr. Kukafka. Angeline Grenz is managing editor for Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness magazine.
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