A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in May 2020 reveals that taking part in a pulmonary rehabilitation program three months after hospitalization can significantly reduce the chance of a person dying within the year.
Yet, most people have no idea what pulmonary rehabilitation is or what the benefits might be to someone with a chronic lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the US.
At Hodgeman County Health Center, we understand the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation to improve lung function, decrease symptom severity, and enhance quality of life.
Click here to visit our Pulmonary Rehabilitation page.
What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation used for?
PR is a planned, medically supervised strategy that looks at the individual’s routines to improve their general health and fitness through pulmonary rehabilitation exercises and their ability to cope with everyday tasks.
In assisting people with lung conditions to manage their symptoms, pulmonary rehabilitation takes a broad view of the patient’s physical and psychological status with chronic respiratory disease. It educates them on how to embark on a healthier lifestyle for reduced respiratory disease symptoms and anxiety or depression, increased exercise capacity, and improved quality of life.
The risks of pulmonary rehabilitation are negligible and are far outweighed by the benefits to patients. Occasionally, physical activity might cause a problem, in which case those supervising the rehabilitation session will call a doctor to attend to the patient.
Who Conducts Pulmonary Rehabilitation?
A pulmonary rehabilitation program, such as the one established at Hodgeman County Health Center, usually involves a line-up of healthcare professionals tasked with conducting 2-3 weekly sessions for eighteen weeks.
Principal role-players would usually be pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, and nurses.. They would likely have experience in the fields of psychology and psychiatry, medicine, rehabilitation, nursing, & nutrition. Other experts might also assist in this specially tailored program depending on the outcome of an initial patient assessment.
What Does the Patient Assessment Entail?
- The patient is questioned about their current fitness levels and activity, diet, and mental health, and their current lung function and exercise capacity are assessed.
- A stress test evaluates blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels, while a pulmonary function test monitors breathing. The medical history and treatments are taken into consideration.
- Realistic goals are discussed. These are based on the patient’s needs. For instance, if they need to be able to walk upstairs to reach their place of work, this is factored into the program.
- A pulmonary rehabilitation care plan is devised based on the outcomes of the assessment.
Components of pulmonary rehabilitation include exercise training, health education, behavior modification, nutritional counseling, and, in the case of those who have chronic respiratory diseases or lung conditions, breathing techniques are taught.
Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Through pulmonary rehabilitation, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience an overall improvement in their quality of life as symptoms of breathlessness are generally reduced, so they may find themselves coughing less frequently and feeling less shortness of breath. They may even find that they are less easily fatigued.
Hospital visits are often minimized as their ability to function physically and accomplish everyday tasks (such as fetching the post, cooking healthy meals, and doing housework) tends to improve. Patients often find they are more able to walk and exercise. As a result, they will often experience improved self-confidence and less anxiety.
In patients with breathing-related issues such as pulmonary hypertension, asthma, interstitial lung disease, and cystic fibrosis, quality of life improves along with exercise capacity and the severity of symptoms. This also applies to patients who resort to pulmonary rehabilitation before and post-surgery to assist in cases of lung cancer, lung volume reduction, or, for instance, a lung transplant.
Hodgeman County Health Center’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
The Hodgeman County Health Center Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program includes outpatient testing: a Pulmonary Function Test, and a stress test.,
Bronchial hygiene treatment and awareness are prioritized, and breathing exercises, stress, and medication management are also essential parts of the center’s strategy.
Patient education and training extend to the family because the patient’s support system is recognized as essential to their well-being. The specialized Hodgeman County Health Center team gives patients peace of mind, helping them to live more meaningful lives, even while in the grips of challenging pulmonary conditions.
Although coverage does vary, most insurances, including Medicare, cover Pulmonary Rehabilitation for COPD and other lung conditions.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Available in Jetmore, Kansas
Should you be interested in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program offered at Hodgeman County Health Center, our team is standing by to take your call!
To schedule a time or for any further questions, please call: 620-357-8361 To learn more about the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program offered at Hodgeman County Health Center, schedule an appointment online or call: 620-357-8361.
