Short-Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Skilled Nursing Respiratory Care
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a short stay admission designed to help individuals manage and minimize the debilitating effects of pulmonary disease. The Pulmonary Rehab Program at Allied Services Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to people struggling with pulmonary disease.
Under the direction of a board-certified pulmonologist, an interdisciplinary team consisting of respiratory, physical, occupational therapists, registered dieticians, and rehabilitation nursing specialists design an individualized treatment plan for every resident. Taking a team approach to care, the plans typically include respiratory muscle testing, chest mobilization, ADL activities, strength and endurance training, and energy conservation education. Residents are shown techniques to better manage stress and anxiety. They are also educated on how nutrition and diet relate to their condition.
About the Program
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is a specifically designed resident-focused program that helps the resident manage and minimize the debilitating effects of pulmonary disease.
Residents who actively participate in the program will gain a better understanding of the disease process, techniques to better manage stress and anxiety and knowledge of how nutrition and diet relate to their medical conditions. Residents will achieve increased strength and endurance and improve their abilities to perform activities of daily living through methods taught to conserve energy.
Our pulmonary treatment team consists of a respiratory therapist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a nurse, and a dietitian.
The team develops a treatment plan with the resident. The interdisciplinary team performs an initial resident assessment and identifies goals. Once goals are agreed upon, an individualized treatment program combining exercise, therapy, and education is implemented.
Diagnoses Treated
Both restrictive and obstructive pulmonary conditions we treat include:
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- Recent Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Emphysema
- Pulmonary Vascular Disease
- Lung Resection
- Interstitial Fibrosis
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Lung Transplant
Our Approach
Residents gain strength and endurance through therapy. Physical and occupational therapy improves mobility and activities of daily living. Respiratory therapy provides diagnostic testing and therapeutic intervention to promote optimal lung function.
Additional therapeutic measures incorporated into the program include a 6-minute walk test, dietary consultation, medication management, ADL and safety training, energy conservation techniques, and a smoking cessation program for those who continue to smoke and want to quit.
The pulmonary rehab program has a strong emphasis on resident and family education on the following topics:
- Physiology of breathing
- Lung disease and its effects in breathing
- Medication
- Safe use of oxygen
- Energy conservation
- Proper breathing techniques including breathing retraining
- Body Mechanics
- Activity of Daily Living (ADL) instructions
- Infection prevention
- Nutrition
Short Term Criteria
Any resident with a pulmonary diagnosis that is medically stable is ambulatory and has the potential to return home is a candidate for the program. Residents must be able to tolerate nasal oxygen and attend therapy sessions based on their level of function.
After Discharge
Every resident is issued an individualized home program to follow and post-discharge services are coordinated based on resident need. Residents may receive referrals to any of the following:
- A Home Health Agency
- An Outpatient Clinic
- A Wellness Program
Any resident choosing to continue with an Allied Services Integrated Health System service provider will continue on to the next step of the Pulmonary Program.
While it is our goal to return all residents home, if the resident cannot, our team of Social Workers will assist residents and their families in finding the best solution for care.
For more information about our short-term pulmonary rehab program, please call 570-348-1215.