Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation program provides education and exercise tailored to the individual's needs and goals.  It is designed to help patients improve breathing and gain greater independence in daily activities.  Our Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation staff includes registered nurses and exercise specialists.  Mercy also sponsors its Respiratory Care Support Group for those living with these conditions.

Mercy's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program has three phases:

In-patient Pulmonary Rehabilitation – With any flare-up of a lung condition, your physician may order in-patient rehab. This consists of low-intensity exercises and education to prevent weakness from bed rest. Exercise is monitored and education is tailored to meet individual needs.

Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation – This includes small classes held three times a week, with various options to fit your schedule. Each class consists of four to eight weeks of education and supervised exercise. An individual exercise program is developed according to needs and personal goals.

"Fit for Life" – This program, our third phase of rehab, is the maintenance phase of both cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. It's about ongoing fitness. Participants receive an initial exercise evaluation, learn an individual exercise program and use a variety of exercise equipment, supervised by specially-trained Registered Nurses and Exercise Specialists. Blood pressure and heart rate are monitored. These classes are held two to three times per week at the Mercy Health Plaza location as well as at the hospital.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation can be reached at (319) 398-6651 to see if you qualify for this program.