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Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation is an important addition to medical therapy. It benefits people with chronic lung disease including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, interstitial lung disease and neuromuscular disorders. At Concord Hospital, pulmonary rehabilitation is a multi-disciplinary approach that offers individually tailored care plans and progress evaluations, therapeutic exercise activities, emotional support and education.
The pulmonary rehabilitation program is an outpatient service designed to help pulmonary patients:
- Understand causes, effects, risk factors and management of pulmonary disease
- Improve their ability to exercise, work and perform daily activities
- Prevent infection and promptly recognize signs when they occur
- Decrease hospitalizations through improved health
- Enjoy independent living with comprehensive outpatient support
The pulmonary rehabilitation program can begin while an inpatient at Concord Hospital. Physical and occupational therapists work with patients to increase their activity tolerance and independence. Patient and family education helps patients recognize symptoms and take the appropriate meausures to monitor progress.
A multi-disciplinary team includes a physician, nurse, respiratory care practitioner, physical therapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, social worker and dietitian. The pulmonary rehabilitation program includes:
- Evaluation from the multi-disciplinary team
- Treatment planning
- Progress assessment
- Education/exercise content
- Breathing retraining
- Exercise reconditioning
- Disease process
- Home respiratory regime (equipment function and maintenance/bronchial hygiene)
- Medication information
- Work simplification and energy conservation techniques
- Dietary management
- Lifestyle changes/lifestyle assessment
- General health maintenance
- Stress management
- Adaptive equipment
- Oxygen therapy
Admission
Individuals should consider pulmonary rehabilitation when their lung disease begins to impact their ability to perform daily activities. Admission into Concord Hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation program requires a physician referral. Patients enrolled in the program attend an orientation that includes a health assessment with the pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator.
Exercise and Education
Two-hour exercise and education sessions are held twice a week in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation gym at Concord Hospital. Each session includes one hour of exercise at three exercise stations with rest periods and guided breathing control. The stations include a stationary bicycle, rowing machine, treadmill, arm ergometer, walking track and exercises. Physical therapy staff provide individual supervision and training during exercise stations. Blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels are evaluated periodically throughout the exercise sessions. Nursing or respiratory therapy staff monitor oxygen if in use during the session.
A group health education and discussion is held for 30 minutes each session. It focuses on all aspects of pulmonary disease. Family members are encouraged to join these sessions, which are guided by members of the rehabilitation team. The discussions focus on the pulmonary disease process, breathing retraining, stress reduction and energy conservation, oxygen use, environmental risk factors, medications, nutrition and psychosocial issues related to chronic illness.
Exercise Maintenance
A follow-up exercise training program is offered to graduates of the pulmonary rehabilitation program. These one-hour exercise sessions are held at selected times during the week at Concord Hospital.
Contact
Ph: (603) 227-7111
Where Can I Find Out More?
National Rehabilitation Association
American Speech and Hearing Association
The American Occupational Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Society of Hand Therapists
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