Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Norton County Hospital is pleased to offer pulmonary rehabilitation under the direction of a licensed respiratory therapist.
What is Pulmonary Rehab?
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program of education and exercise to increase awareness about your lungs and your disease. You will learn to achieve exercise with less shortness of breath. The classes are offered in a group setting so you get the chance to meet others with your condition, which provides an opportunity to give and receive peer support. The skills and knowledge learned in the program will help you feel better and manage your chronic lung disease. You’ll become stronger by increasing your level of fitness. Exercising your lungs and your muscles helps you be more active so you can do the things you enjoy with your loved ones. Pulmonary rehabilitation may even decrease the need for hospital visits.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is an outpatient program at Norton County Hospital.
Is Pulmonary Rehab right for me?
Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for patients with lung disease who experience shortness of breath frequently and are not able to perform daily activities despite daily use of medication. Many patients in rehabilitation programs have a diagnosis of COPD, but these programs also help people with other types of chronic lung disease that limits breathing and activity, such as:
- Asthma
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Weight-associated breathing disorders
- COVID-19
- Pulmonary hypertension
How much does Pulmonary Rehab cost?
The cost to you of PR depends on your insurance coverage and the program you choose. Medicare covers pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD if you meet certain requirements. Medicare may also cover rehabilitation for other lung diseases, but that depends on where you live. The pulmonary rehabilitation program coordinator can tell you if you qualify and what the cost to you will be.
How long is a Pulmonary Rehab program?
Usually, pulmonary rehabilitation is a series of 2 or 3 weekly sessions lasting several weeks or months.
What happens in a Pulmonary Rehab program?
Before the PR program starts, the health care team may ask a patient to do one or more of the following tests:
- 6-minute walk test to gauge the capacity for exercise
- Pulmonary function test to evaluate breathing
- Exercise stress test to measure heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level during physical activity
When the program starts, it will include exercise training to build stamina and flexibility. It may also include some of the following:
- Breathing techniques, such as yoga, to help alleviate the sense of being out of breath
- Instruction in finding easier, energy-saving ways to do everyday tasks
- Help to stop smoking
- Psychological counseling for emotional problems
- Nutritional counseling for optimal health
At the end of the rehabilitation, the health care team may re-test a person to see how much his or her breathing has improved.
Contact Information
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab are located on the lower level of the hospital. The easiest way to get there is through the Outpatient/Specialty Clinic entrance, and take the elevator down to the basement. You may park in the main hospital lot.
Hours vary based on patient appointments. For more information, contact:
Lacey Ninemire, RRT
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Manager
Phone: 785-874-2223
Fax: 785-877-2841
Email: lninemire@ntcohosp.com