Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is America’s fourth ranking cause of death. It ranks behind heart disease, cancer, and stroke. In 2001, it was estimated that 13.3 million Americans had COPD, and a total of 24 million adults had some evidence of impaired lung function. The American College of Chest Physicians has identified 76,892 people with emphysema, 285,261 people with chronic bronchitis, and 412,055 people with adult asthma in Illinois. Although COPD type diseases are the most common chronic lung disease, there are many pulmonary diseases that can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. Some of these include interstitial diseases, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis.

Herrin Hospital’s and St. Joseph Memorial Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs are nationally certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and share their mission to “reduce morbidity, mortality, and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases….”

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a team approach to improving the health of people with pulmonary disease. It combines exercise training with educational programs designed to help control symptoms and improve tolerance to day-to-day activities. The main goals of pulmonary rehabilitation are to help respiratory patients regain some of their independence in their day-to-day activities and improve their quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to reduce the number and length of hospitalizations.

What are some of the benefits from attending a pulmonary rehabilitation program? Pulmonary rehabilitation cannot cure lung diseases but it can help reduce the impact of the disease. Patients receive strength training for both the upper and lower body so that muscles use the limited supply of oxygen more efficiently. Patients also receive education on what foods improves breathing, how to get the most from medications and avoid side effects, how to use purse lip breathing to make breathing more effective and control shortness of breath, how to use oxygen safely, how to travel safely despite requiring supplemental oxygen, and much more. Pulmonary rehabilitation patients meet other people with chronic diseases similar to their own and gain much psychosocial support in the sharing of problems and successes.

Services:

Inpatient and outpatient program

Staff:

Registered Nurses

CVP Rehab Technicians

Multidisplinary Team:

Dietitians

Respiratory therapists

Cardiologists

Pharmacists

Physical therapists

Department Accreditations:

ACLS certified RN’s/respiratory therapists

JCAHO accredited

Nationally Certified by AACVPR (American Association of Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Rehabilitation)

Medical Director:

Raja Maddipotti, M.D.

Support Services:

Inpatient and outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation

Education for patients in need of pulmonary rehabilitation including those with chronic lung disease, lung transplant or lung reduction surgeries

Smoking cessation education.

Physicians providing services at our hospitals are independent contractors with privileges to admit and care for patients at our hospitals.