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Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD

Accepting New Patients
Specializes in: Adult Pulmonology and Adult Critical Care
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine (2009)
Professional interests include: empyema, injuries, hemoptysis, and more.
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Washington, DC 20007

Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD is a pulmonologist in Washington, DC specializing in adult pulmonology and adult critical care. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine in 2009 and has 15 years of experience. Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Health and MGMC LLC.

View Doctor's Full Profile (202) 444-8830

Office Locations

Address:

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
Washington, DC 20007

Some issues Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD can help you with:

Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a thin tube with a camera, called a bronchoscope, is inserted in the mouth or nose and slowly advanced to the lungs. This allows doctors to see the respiratory tract, which includes the throat, larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi (airways), and lungs. Doctors may recommend those who have or show signs of lung problems - for example, lung cancer or difficulty breathing - to undergo a bronchoscopy.

In performing a diagnostic bronchoscopy, doctors may only wish to visualize the respiratory tract, or doctors may also collect samples of tissue or fluid. The samples can help diagnose patients' conditions or, if patients have cancer, they can be used for staging purposes. One method for sample collection is bronchoalveolar lavage. In a bronchoalveolar lavage, doctors inject saline (salt water) through the bronchoscope and then suction it out of the airways. The washout collected is tested for lung disorders. Doctors can also insert a biopsy tool to collect tissue or mucus samples. The following are biopsies that can be performed by bronchoscopy:

  • Brush biopsy, which uses a brush to collect samples.
  • Endobronchial biopsy, which uses the bronchoscope to guide forceps to sample lung tissue.
  • Transbronchial biopsy, which uses forceps and image guidance - such as X-rays, CT scans, or fluoroscopy - to sample lung tissue.
  • Transbronchial fine needle aspiration (TBNA), which uses a small needle to take samples of the lymph nodes or lungs.

For visualization, bronchoscopy can be done alone, or it can be combined with ultrasound. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) allows real-time imaging of the airway and is used for diagnosing and staging lung cancer, as well as for determining where the cancer has spread. EBUS can be performed with TBNA, a procedure known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

Doctors can also use bronchoscopy as a treatment for lung problems. For example, if a foreign body is trapped in the airway, doctors can insert forceps through the bronchoscope to remove it. If the airway has become narrowed - which may occur if patients have an infection, cancer, or some other inflammatory issue - bronchoscopy can be used to place a device called a stent in the area of constriction. The stent will keep the airway open, allowing the patient to breathe properly.

During a bronchoscopy, patients will be given medication (sedative) to help them relax. If it is only a diagnostic bronchoscopy, patients will be kept awake, but if the bronchoscopy is for therapeutic purposes, patients will be put to sleep by general anesthesia. After the procedure, patients will need to stay in the hospital for a few hours. They will not be able to eat or drink for about 2 hours. Some patients may experience discomfort, such as a sore throat or pain while swallowing. Throat lozenges and gargling may help alleviate these symptoms, which should go away after a few days. Patients will need to have someone drive them home once their doctor determines that they are ready.

CPAP Treatment

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment is a medical treatment for people with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea interrupts breathing during sleep, resulting in lapses of oxygen. Lapses of oxygen may in turn lead to severe headaches, heart problems, fatigue, and poor sleep quality. The CPAP device remedies sleep apnea by forcing open the airway with pressurized air, ensuring someone receives enough oxygen while sleeping. The CPAP device is a mask attached to a machine (with a tube) that takes in air from the surrounding room, filters it, and then pressurizes it. The constant flow of pressurized air treats sleep apnea by keeping the tongue and soft palate from obstructing the throat and airway. Benefits of CPAP treatment include:

  • Improved concentration and focus
  • Reduced snoring
  • Lowered risk of heart disease and stroke
  • Improved mental health

In order to receive a CPAP device, patients must receive a prescription from a physician. Some patients may be asked to complete an overnight sleep study known as a titration study. A titration study monitors patients' sleep using a mask attached to a CPAP machine. The technician may monitor and adjust the CPAP's air pressure throughout the night. The purpose of a titration study is to determine the appropriate air pressure for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (blocked upper airway). Once an appropriate CPAP pressure is identified, physicians or sleep technicians may recommend a specific brand or style of device to the patient for long-term use.

Lung Issues

Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. In order to keep the body's tissues constantly supplied with fresh oxygen and to keep waste from building up, the lungs pump air in and out, even while sleeping or unaware. Unfortunately, diseases and disorders affecting the lungs are some of the most common medical problems afflicting people around the world. Some of the most common lung problems include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Asthma is a chronic disease where swollen, inflamed airways make it hard to breathe. It is often brought on by specific triggers. While asthma is a common condition, affecting millions of people, it can also be serious and even fatal in severe cases. Treatment involves avoiding triggers and using inhaled corticosteroid medications.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to two illnesses that both cause difficulty breathing: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs become damaged, while with bronchitis they become clogged with mucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is almost always caused by breathing irritants into the lungs, such as smoking or heavy pollution.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungi. Most healthy people recover from pneumonia in a week or two, but for some people pneumonia can be fatal. There are treatments available for pneumonia, but the best treatment is to prevent getting sick in the first place. People who are at risk should make sure they get a flu shot every year. There is also a vaccine available for the type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside the lung grow into a tumor, destroying healthy tissue. Because it is so difficult to detect lung cancer in early stages when it has few symptoms, it is the deadliest form of cancer, responsible for the most cancer deaths both in the U.S. and worldwide. Most lung cancer is caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but between 10-15% of cases are not linked to smoking.

Some problems with the lungs are minor and are not cause for concern. However if symptoms have lasted for a month or more, even if they are minor, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional. A cough, shortness of breath, or excess mucus production that lingers for weeks are all worth getting looked at.

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2016 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Washington, DC were bronchoscopy, inpatient care, hospital care and minimally invasive procedures.

ablation 11
aspiration 47
bronchoscopy 182
diagnostic procedures 71
doctor visit 256
hospital care 168
image guided procedures 21
inpatient care 168
minimally invasive procedures 112
minor procedures 36
pleural drainage 18
preventive care 22
pulmonary testing 89
thoracic (chest) imaging 16
ultrasound (sonogram) 16
vaccines 22

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2016 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD.

Gender
Male 62
Female 71
Ethnicity
Black / African American 49
Asian / Pacific Islander 5
Non-Hispanic White 67
Native American / Alaskan Native
Hispanic 3
Other 2
Age
75 to 84 41
85 and over 9
Less than 65 20
65 to 74 59

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD From 2016 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD treated were hypertension, chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 37
High Cholesterol 30
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 28
Depression 15
Chronic Kidney Disease 29
Asthma 9
Osteoporosis 5
Heart Failure 19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 21
Diabetes 22
Atrial Fibrillation 10
Cancer 22
Dementia 10

Education & Training

Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine in 2009. She completed residency at University of Maryland Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine and has a state license in District of Columbia.

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine (2009)

Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center (2012)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

Licensed In: District of Columbia

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
MedStar Health
MGMC LLC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Choice Fund PPO, MAMSI, First Health PPO, Blue Choice, Golden Rule, Great-West Healthcare, TRICARE, Community Care Network (CCN), Coventry, TRICARE Reserve Select, Anthem, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Beech Street PPO, Aetna HMO, Kaiser Select, Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA Indemnity, AARP, Medicare Advantage, Coventry National Network PPO, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, Virginia Premier Health Plan, WellPoint, Aetna, CIGNA Network Open Access, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), HealthyBlue PPO, MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice, CareFirst NASCO, CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO, Traditional Medicare Fee for Service, United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO), Innovation Health: Open POS Plus, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families, Carefirst EPO, Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus, United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program, CareFirst Administrators, United Student Resources, United Select HMO - EPO/NPP, United MD IPA Preferred (POS), United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO), Innovation Health: Network Only Plus, United MD IPA (HMO), United Choice Plus, CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans), Innovation Health: PPO, HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance, United Choice, United Optimum Choice, Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus), Innovation Health: POS, Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS), Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus, United Select Plus (POS), CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced, United Erickson Advantage Plans, Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS), Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN), D-SNP), I-SNP, CareFirst MedStar PPO, CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity, United Core Essential (HMO), Innovation Health: POS Plus, HumanaChoice PPO, United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP, Innovation Health: Open POS II, Innovation Health: Indemnity, United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose, Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, United Navigate, Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO, Police and Fire Clinic and CareFirst MedStar Select PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

CIGNA Choice Fund PPO
MAMSI
First Health PPO
Blue Choice
Golden Rule
Great-West Healthcare
TRICARE
Community Care Network (CCN)
Coventry
TRICARE Reserve Select
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Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 465 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Washington, DC. 

4.8
Overall Rating
Leave a Review
Reviews From Around The Web
Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-09-19
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Very pleased with assistance provided, being part of decision process and getting all of my questions answere.
Overall Rating: 5.0 2022-08-31
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Good

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. $7,199 Da Vinci Surgical System
$7,199
Covidien Sales LLC $161 Interventional Lung Solutions
$161
Ethicon US, LLC $125 NEUWAVE Flex Microwave Ablation System
$125
Pulmonx Corporation $94 Pulmonx Endobronchial Valve EBV
$94
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. $54 Brovana
$54
Other $105 Monarch Platform
$38 		superDimension
$35 		Olympus EBUS Bronchoscopes
$18 		NON-PRODUCT
$14
Types of Payments
Education $3,014
Travel and Lodging $2,724
Food and Beverage $1,999

Biography

Dr. Rebecca Krochmal's areas of specialization are adult critical care and adult pulmonology; she sees patients in Washington, DC. Clinical interests for Dr. Krochmal include airway obstruction, tracheal stenosis, and pneumonitis (lung inflammation). Dr. Krochmal is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. Her residency was performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She seems to honor Anthem, Blue California, Coventry, and more. Dr. Krochmal's practice in Washington, DC is open to new patients as reported by Doctor.com.

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