What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a supervised program that includes exercise training, medication education, and breathing techniques for individuals who have lung conditions that keep them from doing daily living activities. The program Medical Director, Respiratory Therapist, and the patient will work together to create a treatment plan that fits the patient’s individual needs. Pulmonary Rehab will help you manage your disease, increase your stamina, and decrease your breathlessness.

 

At Osborne County Memorial Hospital, our Respiratory Therapist will educate you on how to pace your breathing for exercise, and start exercises at a level you can handle. The length of time you exercise will increase over time and change based on your ability. As your muscles get stronger, you will be able to exercise longer with less breathlessness and exhaustion.

 

The Benefits of Pulmonary Rehab

Pulmonary rehab may improve your quality of life by:

• Reducing shortness of breath

• Increasing exercise tolerance

• Decrease hospitalizations

• Maintenance of emotional well-being

• Increasing knowledge on your lung disease and management

• Promoting a sense of well-being

 

Although Pulmonary Rehab cannot cure your lung disease, it can be of great benefit. Our goal is that you notice an improvement in your breathing efforts and that your disease symptoms become much more manageable. Rehab allows you to make the most of your limited lung function. 

What our Program Offers

The topics that are covered in our education programs include:

• Monitored and Supervised Exercise training

• Disease education

• Nutrition education

• Breathing retraining

• Medication Education

• Education on handling exacerbations

• Education on preserving daily energy

• Help with smoking cessation

• Education on when to see medical attention for your condition

• Anxiety, stress and/or depression management

 

Who Can Participate?

Admission into the rehab program requires an order from a physician. Patients who benefit from the program include those who have, or have had, the following conditions:

• Asthma

• Bronchiectasis

• Emphysema

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Chronic Bronchitis

• Sarcoidosis

• Pulmonary Hypertension

• Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Interstitial Lung Disease

• Lung Cancer or Surgery

• Lung Transplant

• Lung Reduction Surgery

• Cystic Fibrosis

 

Our Respiratory Therapist, Brooke Mick, RRT, would be glad to visit with you about our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. Call Osborne County Memorial Hospital at 785-346-2121