NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Joins New Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network
The new national network facilitates access to high-quality, specialized patient care for bronchiectasis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease
Mar 12, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue today announced that the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association has accepted Bellevue Hospital as a Bronchiectasis and NTM Clinical Associate Center, part of the new Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network (CCN), a national network of 33 sites in 23 states and the District of Columbia. The CCN aims to facilitate access to specialized care and support for the hundreds of thousands of people with bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease.
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network (CCN) is a group of centers throughout the United States that has recently been formed to recognize expert care being offered in this field. Centers accepted into the CCN receive a designation of either a Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center or a Bronchiectasis and NTM Clinical Associate Center, based on institutional resources and infrastructure. The requirements are established by the CCN’s Steering Committee, comprised of leading experts in the field.
“We are honored to receive this recognition for the expert-level care that we provide to our all of our patients, without exception,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Executive Officer Eric Wei, MD, MBA. “Our participation in this national network will increase disease awareness for patients and providers, accelerate time to diagnosis and deliver high-quality care, and support research and access to clinical trials.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is one of the few public hospitals in the country to be recognized as part of this network, and we are proud to offer comprehensive care in this field for our patients with bronchiectasis and NTM in New York,” said Ashwin Basavaraj, MD, Section Chief for Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “The prevalence of bronchiectasis is increasing worldwide, and it is important to recognize it early in order for patients to undergo a proper evaluation, receive treatment when necessary, and prevent further lung destruction. As with many chronic illnesses, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to improved patient outcomes.”
“As the prevalence of bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease grows, it is even more important for us to create this Care Center Network to improve access to high-quality, specialty care and resources patients need,” said Doreen Addrizzo-Harris, MD, Chair of the CCN Steering Committee. “The CCN’s innovative, nationwide network will help us achieve our goals of improving care and quality of life for those with these conditions, as well as advancing toward a cure.”
Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition characterized by irreversible dilation of airways and an inflammatory process. There are a number of causes for bronchiectasis, including prior infections, reflux and aspiration, autoimmune conditions and immunodeficiencies, as well as genetic etiologies. With bronchiectasis, there is often accumulation of mucus in the airways, which can be associated with chronic pulmonary symptoms, frequent infections and exacerbations, and a poor quality of life.
NTM, or non-tuberculous mycobacteria, is a group of bacteria that is commonly found in patients with bronchiectasis in the United States. NTM is normally present in the environment, and can be indolent or cause chronic progressive symptoms. The symptoms associated with NTM can often times be misdiagnosed with other common lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network will span 150 medical centers in diverse geographical locations nationwide over the next three years. For more information about the network, visit www.bronchandntm.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Bellevue Public Relations, 212-562-4516
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About the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people with bronchiectasis, nontuberculous mycobacterial lung (NTM) disease, or both conditions. The Association accomplishes this by providing education, supporting advocacy, furthering research, and advancing high-quality, specialized care. For more information, visit www.bronchandntm.org.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and annually it sees about 103,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
