Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Helping patients breathe easier
Do you find yourself getting breathless performing simple tasks once taken for granted? Do you now sit on the sidelines and watch an activity you once enjoyed doing? Has your doctor told you that you have emphysema, chronic bronchitis or asthma? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, Reid Hospital's Pulmonary Rehabilitation program might be able to help.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is designed to improve the quality of life for persons with chronic lung disease through individual counseling, education and physical activity. The process includes educating the patient and others who are a significant part of the patient‘s life. Family members are encouraged to participate. All sessions are designed to develop the confidence and knowledge necessary to follow a recommended home care program.
A respiratory therapist is available throughout the program to assist patients and their families and answer questions. Periodic reports and a summary will be sent to the referring physician. Pulmonary Rehabilitation helps you understand your disease and how it affects your life and the lives of those around you. The program helps patients and family members adjust to a change in life-style. Through discussions with members of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation team, patients will receive valuable information on the physical and emotional challenges of their disease.
An individual treatment program may include some or all of the following:
- The use of oxygen therapy and other medications
- Breathing exercises
- Diet
- Relaxation techniques
- Individualized exercise programs
- Stress management
If supplemental home oxygen or respiratory therapy equipment is prescribed by your physician, respiratory therapists can make the arrangements and show you how to use the equipment.
A health maintenance exercise program is also offered to help maintain the benefits achieved through Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Our outpatient program helps the patient and family learn the following:
- The structure and function of the respiratory system as it applies to the patient's disease process.
- Techniques used to control and relieve shortness of breath.
- A graded physical reconditioning program to increase exercise capacity.
- Relaxation techniques to decrease stress and promote correct breathing.
- Operation, maintenance, and cleaning of respiratory care equipment.
- Energy conservation techniques.
- Control and awareness of chest infections.
- Chest physical therapy techniques to aid bronchial hygiene.
- Proper use of oxygen.
- Proper nutrition.
- Patient and family communication, adaptation and coping.
To learn more about the Reid Hospital Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, call: Reid Hospital & Health Care Services Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (765) 983-3297
