Hospital Map (15kb, pdf) Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
What is the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program?
A multi-disciplinary group program of exercise and education for people with chronic respiratory impairment.
The program guides and supports people with chronic respiratory impairment to reduce the negative impact of chronic lung diseases and thereby restore the highest possible level of independent functioning.
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program aims to:
• To improve adherence to recommended therapies
• To reduce frequency and severity of symptoms
• To improve mood and motivation
• To reduce dependency
• To enhance participation in therapeutic decisions by building self-management capacity
• To increase participation in everyday activities
• To improve quality of life to reduce health burden for patients, families and communities
Who is the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for?
The program is primarily open to those people with COPD(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Other conditions appropriate for this program include, but are not limited to:
• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chest wall diseases
• Oxygen dependency
• Pre and post lung surgery for transplantation, volume reduction or cancer
Inclusion criteria:
- Poor exercise tolerance
- Stable airways disease
- Stable cardiac status
- Optimal and stable drug management
- Intact musculoskeletal and neurological (i.e. able to exercise)
- Mentally receptive
- Motivated
- Smoking Cessation
- +/- oxygen therapy
- Pulmonary Assessment and doctors referral
Program content
The program runs concurrently with the Chronic Health Failure program due to the similar exercise and education needs of these two consumer groups.
The program is based on the most current Australian clinical practice guidelines for Chronic Disease Management and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Australian Lung Foundation, COPDX Guidelines)
Exercise component:
The exercise program is completed in a group setting but is prescribed on an individual basis, tailored the patient’s abilities with consideration to co-morbidities.
Education component:
The objectives of the education session are that participants become more skilled at collaborative self-management and more adherent to their treatment plan.
The key objectives are to
- Encourage physical fitness and provide information to assist attainment of this goal.
- Increase ability to cope with acute and chronic phases of COPD / respiratory issues.
- improve quality of life
- Reduce length of stay in hospital / hospital admissions.
Information sessions include:
- The role and correct use of medications
- Breathing techniques, managing breathlessness, sputum clearance and infection control issues.
- Physical exercise and the benefits of energy conservation.
- Nutrition and healthy eating
- Informati0n of lung condition and Pathophysiology of the lungs
- Coping with chronic illness, action planning and management of anxiety and depression
- Continence issues and diabetes risk
- Community resources, legal issues and palliative care.
Written information is provided for participants to take home for review and share with family.
A carer / support person is encouraged to attend the program with the client to provide support and assist to reinforce information discussed.
Where
The Chalet Physiotherapy Centre situated next to the Allied Health Centre.
When
The program is offered from 1.30pm to 3.30pm each Monday and Thursday for eight consecutive weeks.
The education session is offered first from 1.30pm to 2.15pm, a break for light afternoon tea and then an exercise session is offered from 2.20pm – 3.30pm.
Entry and exit assessments are completed in the week prior and post program respectively. This takes about 1 – 1 ½ hours and includes noting health history and medications, a questionnaire, and a 6 minute walk test. During this visit the program is explained in more detail.
Clients are re-assessed at 3 and 9 months post program completion using the same assessments as previously administered pre and post program to gain a picture of the retained benefits / progress.
Transport assistance
Transport assistance can be arranged through the program coordinator for participants who are unable to attend the program due to transport difficulties.
Referrals
- Self referral
- Inpatient of WDHS and Campuses.
- Outpatient via community, GP or other health service
Inpatient referral
Referral of inpatients is by the use of the WDHS Health Services Referral MR 000 or electronic referral by any registered nurse, allied health, community or medical staff member in the acute care sector.
As participants may only enter the program at its commencement date, any other referrals for clients received during a program are placed on a waiting list in preparation for the next available program place.
Other related services
Respiratory Support Group:
All participants of each pulmonary rehabilitation programs are introduced to the Community Development Worker of the Respiratory Support Group and are encouraged to become a member of the support group.
This group meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the FHCC at 1.30[, - 3.30pm.
Carer’s Group:
A carer’s support group is included in the program timetable to invite participant’s carer’s of family members to discuss some of the issues they face, living with a person who has respiratory disease.
Carers are invited and encouraged to become a member of the Carer’s Support Group. This group meets on the first Thursday of each month in FHCC at 2-6pm
Links
Further information about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can be found at the following sites:
- The Australian Lung Foundation www.lungnet.com.au
Contact us
Telephone: 03 555 18532
Fax 03 555 18548
Email megan.mcleish@wdhs.net
Address:
Allied Health Centre
Tyers Street
PO Box 283
Hamilton, Vic. 3300