Pulmonary rehabilitation
If you or a loved one suffers from poor pulmonary health and has been advised by a doctor to seek out rehabilitation treatment, our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program can help. The education, exercises and individualized plan you will receive through this experience, can impact your health and well-being for years.
Highlights of the program include:
- Learning how to safely begin and maintain an exercise program
- Making lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking and losing weight
- Managing stress, depression or other emotional needs that often accompany a serious illness
- Learning techniques to better manage breathing and conserve energy
- Preventing your condition from getting worse and reducing flare-ups
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised outpatient program for people with chronic lung disease whose breathing problems interfere with normal daily activities. Through a combination of exercise, education and other support services, the program is designed to help patients with a number of chronic respiratory conditions, including:
- COPD
- Emphysema
- Chronic airway obstruction
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pre and post lung transplant
- Post COVID-19 care
Pulmonary rehabilitation benefits
If your lungs are permanently affected by a medical condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may benefit from Beacon’s pulmonary rehabilitation program. Our customized services can help you reduce and manage your symptoms, including persistent shortness of breath and low energy levels. Pulmonary rehab can increase your ability to function.
Although pulmonary rehabilitation cannot completely eliminate your breathing problems, it still offers many benefits for people of all ages.
Services
Our program is designed to help patients with a number of chronic respiratory conditions, including:
- Acute (trauma) care: Rehabilitation care around the clock as an inpatient, until you’ve regained enough skills and abilities to transition from the hospital to your homes
- Asthma therapy
- Chronic airway obstruction
- Chronic bronchitis therapy
- COPD therapy
- Cystic fibrosis therapy
- Emphysema therapy
- Pulmonary fibrosis therapy
- Pulmonary atelectasis therapy
- Sarcoidosis therapy
How to get started
Before you get started, you’ll need to get a referral for pulmonary rehabilitation from your primary care doctor or pulmonologist. Once your referral has been coordinated, you will attend an orientation session and undergo an evaluation, including a pulmonary function test to assess your current lung function.
Next, you’ll work closely with a team of medical professionals that may include pulmonologists, registered nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, psychologists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists and occupational therapists.
Your team will help you create a customized exercise plan, learn new strategies to manage your breathing and energy, monitor your progress and adjust your goals as needed.
Although most pulmonary rehab programs last from four to 12 weeks, the amount of time you’ll spend in rehabilitation depends on your unique needs and how well you’re doing.
Once you’ve completed your pulmonary rehabilitation program, you’ll need to continue managing your own exercise, breathing techniques, medications and lifestyle choices to ensure you make the most of your lung function. Until then, we’ll provide the coaching, tools and support that will empower you to take those first steps on your own – and live life to the fullest
Monitored and supervised exercise
Exercise will help improve your endurance and strength, so you’re better able to carry out daily activities. We will help you develop a physical activity plan tailored to your needs.
Educational classes
The education classes focus on COPD as well as other chronic lung diseases to help understand and learn ways to manage life with a chronic lung disease, classes include:
- Medication
- Stress management
- Diet, nutrition and weight management
- Breathing techniques
- Depression
- Risk factors
- Managing shortness of breath
- Road to recovery plan