--- title: "Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD" description: "Three Lakes Foundation and CHEST are collaborating on an important education initiative—Bridging Specialties™: Timely Diagnosis for ILD Patients—to reduce the time it takes to diagnose patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). ILD symptoms are similar to other more common lung diseases, frequently resulting in misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Some studies show that reaching a proper diagnosis for rarer lung diseases can take upwards of several years." --- ![CHEST Logo](https://info.chestnet.org/hubfs/NewsBrief%20Static%20Images/Logos/ICON%20CHEST%20informal%20logo-2.png "CHEST Logo") # Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD ![Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD](https://info.chestnet.org/hubfs/Bridging%20Specialties%20Tool%20Kit%20update%2012092022.jpg "Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD") As a family medicine or primary care clinician, you are focused on one mission—better outcomes for your patients. Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD is an initiative to define a clearer clinician-guided approach to diagnosis for interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Early diagnosis for ILDs is essential. By working together, we can leverage our combined strengths to tackle a shared goal: shortening the time to diagnosis for ILDs. ## If you hear this, it could be ILD Your browser does not support the audio tag. Take a listen to see if you have heard similar sounds from your patients. Time lost is lung lost. [Access additional clinical resources](https://www.chestnet.org/Guidelines-and-Topic-Collections/Bridging-Specialties/Timely-Diagnosis-for-ILD-Patients?__hstc=45788219.2589fc19e5f93f9aa8bb021a4cf19f75.1667486673438.1667486673438.1667486673438.1&__hssc=45788219.1.1667486673438&__hsfp=428098088), including our clinician tool kit containing research-backed resources, designed  designed to help you advance care for patients with ILDs. ## Learn to recognize the signs of ILDs Fill out this form to download an infographic that shows why early diagnosis is important and the factors driving diagnostic delays. We’ll also send you additional resources as they become available. ```   ```  ![260x260 TLF Faculty Headshots_LAGO](https://info.chestnet.org/hs-fs/hubfs/260x260%20TLF%20Faculty%20Headshots_LAGO.png?width=150&height=150&name=260x260%20TLF%20Faculty%20Headshots_LAGO.png)"Patients first see their family medicine or primary care clinicians, and, all too often, the most complex lung diseases present in ways that are indistinguishable from more common conditions like asthma and COPD. Bringing together experts in both fields will yield the best results in creating a path to diagnosis.”   > – William Lago, MD, Family Medicine Physician CHEST and Three Lakes Foundation joined together to launch Bridging Specialties: Timely Diagnosis for ILD. Watch the video to learn more about this initiative. --- ![logo-default-1](https://info.chestnet.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/logo-default-1.png?width=225&height=76&name=logo-default-1.png) About the American College of Chest Physicians® CHEST is the global leader in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion advanced clinical practice, education, communication, and research in chest medicine. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 20,000 members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about CHEST and its flagship journal CHEST®, visit [chestnet.org](http://chestnet.org/).   ![TLF_Logo](https://info.chestnet.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TLF_Logo.jpg?width=225&height=82&name=TLF_Logo.jpg) About Three Lakes Foundation Three Lakes Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to serving as a catalyst for uniting research, industries, and philanthropy in pulmonary fibrosis. We connect entrepreneurs, advocates, and institutions to an innovation ecosystem that will transform our approach to improve time to diagnosis and accelerate new therapies. To learn more, visit [threelakesfoundation.org](http://threelakesfoundation.org/).   #### ABOUT CHEST The American College of Chest Physicians is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research, and team-based care. **[Learn More](http://www.chestnet.org/About)** #### CONTACT US \[fa icon="phone"\]  [+1 (224) 521-9800](tel:+1%20(224)%20521-9800) \[fa icon="envelope"\]  [helpteam@chestnet.org](mailto:helpteam@chestnet.org) \[fa icon="home"\]  [2595 Patriot Blvd, Glenview IL 60026](https://www.google.com/maps/place/2595+Patriot+Boulevard+Glenview++IL+60026) #### FOLLOW US        Copyright 2026 © American College of Chest Physicians ® [Privacy Policy](https://information.chestnet.org/privacy-policy/)| [Terms of Use](https://information.chestnet.org/terms-of-use/) \[fa icon="chevron-up"\]Back to top