Pulmonary Care Program

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Virginia Regional Medical Center focuses on inpatient and outpatient assessment, pulmonary rehabilitation, education, and support group activities to help patients with lung disease increase their independence and improve their quality of life

Patients who benefit from the program include those with asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive pulmonary disease, and occupational/environmental lung diseases.  Patients are referred to the program by their physicians. 

Inpatient Assessment
Physicians can now have their patients assessed for pulmonary rehabilitatin and support group activities while they are inpatients at the Virginia Regional Medical Center.  A pulmonary rehabilitation technician will visit the patients and report their findings back to the physician.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation
The pulmonary rehabilitation component is designed to increase the patient's independence and quality of life through education in pulmonary disease, nutrition, exercise, medication, relaxation, proper breathing techniques, and energy conservation. 

This program runs for 10 weeks and meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays for one hour of physical reconditioning and one hour of patient training in a classroom setting

Physical Reconditioning
The patient will have access to the treadmill, stationary bike, nu-step, and arm ergometers.  Each participant is closely monitored while exercising to ensure safety amd effective energy use.

Patient Training in a Classroom
Phase II
The team of specialists:  Medical Director, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Technician, respiratory care practitioners, social workers, dietitian, and health educators from the community, work together to provide a common goal-helping those with lung disease to breathe easier.

The follow topics are discussed during the 10 weeks:        

• diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing
• anatomy and physiology of respiratory system
• COPD and other lung diseases
• review of medications and proper use of inhalers
• nutritional guidelines
• relaxation and stress management
• energy conservation and work simplification
• living wills/advanced directives
• communications and relationships
• community resources
• respiratory equipment and oxygen therapy
• mechanical ventilation
• smoking cessation
• support group participation

Phase II
Exercise for one hour in the mornings.  Must complete Phase I.  There is a minimal charge for Phase II which is not covered by insurance.

Breathe Easy Support Group
Upon completing the 10-week rehab program, participants are introduced to a support group setting.

Once a month this group meets for lunch and group discussions, usually with a guest speaker

A day-trip is planned for the summer activity and a community involvement project during the holiday season round out the year.

For more information on joining our Pulmonary Health Program, please contact:

Deb Lekatz, CRTT, Pulmonary Rehab Technician
(218) 749-9409 Tuesday & Thursday

Heather Parenteau, Coordinator, Chronic Disease Services
(218) 749-9409 Monday - Friday


Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
If you have been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), you may be concerned about what the future holds. Understanding what you can do to control your disease is the key to having less shortness of breath and feeling better. This may mean making some changes in your lifestyle. Making these changes can be hard at first, but it will allow you to live a more active life.

What is COPD?
COPD is a group of lung diseases. It includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are most often caused by heavy, long-time cigarette smoking. COPD can also include chronic asthma, which is hypersensitivity of the air passages in the lungs. Bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma all have one thing in common: They limit the flow of air into and out of your lungs. As a result, you may cough, wheeze, have excess mucus and feel short of breath.

How is COPD Treated?
Although COPD cannot be cured, it can be treated. Your health care team will work with you to develop a treatment plan. It may include taking medication, learning to breathe in better ways, doing things such as exercising, controlling stress, and stopping smoking to help prevent shortness of breath. Following through on your treatment plan will make all the difference in how well you feel and how much you can do.