Pulmonary Rehabilitation | Services Offered | Outpatient Program | Inpatient Program | Treatment Team | Physicians and Staff | Patient Success Stories | Frequently Asked Questions
The numbers continue to rise as more and more people are afflicted with debilitating pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis or lung cancer. In response to this growing problem, University Specialty Hospital, a division of the University of Maryland Medical Center, established a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.
In partnership with the University of Maryland’s division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary program that combines exercise training and education. The goal is to improve and maintain pulmonary functional status, physical and psychological sense of well-being, and quality of life. Pulmonary Rehabilitation is best for patients with moderate to severe pulmonary disease who still cannot function well despite having undergone medical therapy.
The mission of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is to help patients with pulmonary disorders achieve increased independence and improved quality of life through better management and education regarding their disease and improving their self-care skills.
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at University Specialty Hospital is divided into both an inpatient and outpatient section.
For inpatients, the primary focus is weaning patients from mechanical ventilation, through the incorporation of strict weaning protocols as well as an intense, monitored physical rehabilitation program. The clinical team is made up of skilled occupational and physical therapists, knowledgeable respiratory therapists, as well as physicians. When a patient is transferred from an acute care facility, immediately there is an emphasis on getting the patient mobile, through rehabilitation and use of the newly-updated gym with state-of-the art exercise and physical therapy equipment.
The outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation component serves patients discharged from the inpatient program as well as those in the community who are living with impaired lung function. The program is 3 days a week for 10 weeks, with each session lasting 2 1/2 hours. The first hour is devoted to education on several topics related to the self-management of chronic lung disease, and the remaining time consists of a monitored exercise training session. The same skilled multidisciplinary team who work with inpatients interacts with the outpatient participants.
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at University Specialty Hospital offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient treatment services. Expert staff works with every patient and their family to develop a tailored treatment plan. The program emphasizes patients taking an active role in their health care. By learning more about their condition and options, patients are able to:
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program leaders include:
Montserrat Diaz-Abad, M.D. |
Avelino C. Verceles, M.D. |