Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Any patient who has a lung problem and shortness of breath that is limiting their activities would benefit from Mercy's Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation. This program consists of classes held three times a week at the Mercy Health Plaza.
The two-hour classes include one hour of education and one hour of exercise. The exercise is supervised by Mercy's Outpatient Pulmonary Rehab Team, made up of a respiratory therapist, physical therapists, and pulmonary rehab registered nurses.
What are the benefits?
Frequently, patients with lung problems will experience shortness of breath with their activities. They assume their illness is progressing and they should not be doing those activities. Because they are less active, they get weak. Now they begin to experience shortness of breath during minor activities and they become even weaker. Before long, they have given up all their activities and just getting ready for the day is all they can handle.
That's when Mercy's Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation can make a real difference.
Education and exercise
Mercy's Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation program covers educational topics such as learning better breathing techniques, nutrition, stress management, managing anxiety, preventing infections to prevent hospitalizations, medications and beginning an individual home exercise program. Patients learn how to live an active life within the limitations of their disease.
An individual exercise program is developed based on the goals of the patient. Patients exercise on a variety of stationary bicycles, treadmills, step and arm bicycle. Heart rate, oxygen level, blood pressure and shortness of breath are monitored during exercise and are progressed accordingly. Family is welcome and encouraged to attend these sessions.
A support group meets every other month.
Call Mercy Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation at 319-398-6651 to see if you qualify for Pulmonary Rehabilitation. All our programs and the Mercy Fitness Center are located at Mercy Health Plaza, 5264 Council Street NE in Cedar Rapids.
Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Inpatient Low Intensity Exercise
A physician may order pulmonary rehabilitation for patients hospitalized with lung problems. Inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation offers low intensity exercise. It is designed to help prevent patients from losing too much strength while they are in the hospital.
Mercy's Pulmonary Rehab Team includes registered nurses and exercise specialists. The team monitors blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and shortness of breath. Correct breathing techniques are discussed.
Education and exercise
Education is provided to help patients live within the limitations of their disease. This includes learning breathing techniques, prevention of infections, managing anxiety, and more. Information on the more intense Outpatient Program is also provided to the patient.
Inpatient exercise decreases the usual weakness problems associated with bed rest and helps patients develop confidence during a stressful time.
The third phase of Pulmonary Rehabilitation is our “Fit for Life” program, the maintenance phase of both cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Mercy encourages rehabilitation patients and members of the public to visit our Mercy Fitness Center. All our rehabilitation services and the Mercy Fitness Center are located at the Mercy Health Plaza, 5264 Council Street NE in Cedar Rapids.
For more information, call 319-398-6651.
Resources:
http://www.lungusa.org
