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Pulmonary Rehabilitation
518-386-3688 (outpatient)

  patient exercising

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects nearly two million Americans, and asthma more than 12 million. Pulmonary rehabilitation provides supervised exercise training, respiratory care instruction, smoking cessation, nutritional counseling, psychosocial support, oxygen therapy and education.

At Sunnyview, a structured team plans care to help improve a patient's functional status and to recommend changes in a patient's lifestyle to increase functional

 

ability. As a result, pulmonary rehabilitation may raise the level of physical and social functioning to the highest possible level, reduce disability and prolong life.

Who benefits from the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program?

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps a motivated individual with chronic lung disease to improve their lives and help with day-to-day challenges of living with chronic illness.

Candidates for pulmonary rehabilitation have chronic lung disease, including:

  • emphysema
  • asthma
  • chronic bronchitis
  • cystic fibrosis
  • interstitial lung disease
  • lung reduction surgeries (such as partial lung removal following illness or injury)
 

What benefits can I expect to receive through pulmonary rehabilitation?

  • less shortness of breath
  • greater independence
  • shower and bathe with less difficulty
  • do housework and cook meals with less fatigue
  • improve strength and endurance
  • visit friends and dine out
  • resume some former hobbies and activities
  • better understanding of nutritional needs associated with pulmonary disease
  • experience less depression and anxiety and cope better with daily issues
  • improve knowledge and understanding of lung disease, oxygen equipment and medications
  • improve ability to return to the work force
  • fewer hospitalizations
  • less use of medical resources
  • enjoy improved quality of life

Who is on the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team?
 

The person living with chronic lung disease is the most important member of the team, with the support of his/her family members. A physician specializing in pulmonary medicine develops the plan of care in conjunction with a team of nurses, therapists and other health care professionals.

Program Description

Comprehensive Services include:

  • individual evaluations
  • patient/Family Education
  • mutual goal-setting
  • exercise training
  • psychosocial Counseling
  • group support
  • nutritional Counseling
  • smoking Cessation referrals
  • oxygen evaluation and management
fitness center
  Outpatient
  • small groups of between three and six participants
  • meet two to three times per week for six weeks
  • sharing with individuals in similar situations
Support Group

The pulmonary support group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.

  • Pulmonary wellness groups provide follow-up support from staff to assist patients in adjusting to life changes.
  • Better breathers" groups provide peer-supported sharing of similar experiences and education to assist with common problems.

Who will pay for this rehabilitation?

Sunnyview's insurance specialists will work with you to determine whether your private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or health maintenance organization will cover pulmonary rehabilitation.

How do I receive further information?

  • Your primary-care physician or pulmonary physician may refer you to the program by calling 518-386-3632 (inpatient referral) or 518-386-3688 (outpatient referral).
  • Tours are available by calling 518-382-4516 to set up an appointment.
  • Log onto www.sunnyview.org

AACVPR-Certified

Sunnyview's pulmonary rehabilitation program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, a distinction reserved for pulmonary programs that meet strict certification guidelines.

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Related Links:
American Association for Respiratory Care

American Lung Association
Canadian Lung Association

 
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