The Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at Jefferson Healthcare was recently certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). AACVPR Program Certification is a recognition of our commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.
To earn accreditation, our program participated in an application process that required extensive documentation of our practices. As the only peer-review accreditation process, AACVPR Program Certification is designed to review individual programs for adherence to the highest standards and guidelines developed and published by a group of professional societies in the field.
Our patients learn, through the program, to improve their overall quality of life through exercise and education. The program includes education to increase knowledge of lung disease, breathing techniques to control shortness of breath, medications, energy conservation, and coping skills.
Often, individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) accommodate their shortness of breath by doing less in their life. This can lead to a steady decline in daily activities while compensating for their disease. Participation in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program patients receive encouragement with monitored exercise to help build strength, endurance, and flexibility over time.
Through participation, patients gain knowledge to remain independent, decrease emergency trips to the hospital, control and alleviate symptoms, and gain knowledge to remain independent. “Pulmonary rehabilitation, through education and supervised individualized exercise, helps patients to optimize their functioning and quality of life despite their limitations due to lung disease. As a county with a larger proportion of older patients, including many with chronic lung disease, this service is essential. We are happy and proud to be able, with some recent modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to continue to offer this program in support of our community,” Dr. Todd Carlson, Medical Director Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Jefferson Healthcare
AACVPR-certified programs are leaders in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proven track records of high-quality patient care. Jefferson Healthcare believes this is one more way we can provide the quality care our community deserves, right here at home.
Pulmonary Rehab is open with modified COVID safe protocols; two days a week and calling patients on the third day. This will foster good exercise regimens at home and minimize traffic in the facility.
Crystal Quillen BA, RRT is the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist and can be reached at ext. 1220. She is experienced in Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Critical Care, Cardiac stress testing, and Pulmonary Function Testing
