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The
pulmonary rehabilitation program has been implemented at ALMH to
improve the quality of life for people who suffer from chronic
lung problems such as emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis,
cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis and other lung-related
diseases.
"It’s
a program that is really needed here," states Sharon Koester,
RT, program coordinator. "Until now," says Koester,
"patients who had chronic lung problems have had to go out of
the area to get pulmonary rehabilitation."
Dr.
Dru Hauter, medical director of the pulmonary rehabilitation
program, provides consultative services for program, which is
modeled after the program at Memorial Medical Center in
Springfield. According to Hauter, "Pulmonary rehab tends to
increase the activity levels of patients while reducing their
symptoms of shortness of breath. Our participants are setting
personal goals that allow them to enjoy their lives more. It could
be that pulmonary rehab may help them get out of the house more to
shop, go out for dinner or to even hunt in the woods."
"All
participants are referred to the program by their primary care
physician or specialist," states Koester. The most unique
aspect of the program is that it is individualized to meet each
patient’s needs. "We specialize the program for each
person," says Koester, " because we believe that each
person has a goal that they wish to achieve."
In
addition to the individualized curriculum, participants are
offered the opportunity to meet others in the program. According
to Koester, "Patients enjoy hearing others’ stories.
They see they are not alone with their problems. It creates a
camaraderie and assists in keeping them on track to a healthier
lifestyle."
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Koester
begins the program with three educational sessions. Education is
essential to ensuring lifestyle changes which are needed to
increase endurance and improve the health of these patients. In
the education sessions, patients receive materials on exercising
and self care.
Safe
exercise workouts begin with the fourth session. The exercise
sessions are conducted in ALMH’s state-of-the art rehabilitation
department, conveniently located on the first floor of the
hospital. Patients are monitored on the heart monitor for the
first month by a cardiac rehab nurse to ensure they have no
cardiac problems while they are exercising.
The
length of the program depends on each individual’s needs. The
patients are given a discharge exercise plan when they decide to
discontinue the program, as well as a list of what levels they
have achieved on the exercise equipment. Also included is an
exercise log for patients to use to record daily exercise goals.
The log can be taken to their physician’s office during
checkups.
For
more information about the pulmonary rehabilitation program at
ALMH, contact Sharon Koester, RT, at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 418.
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