Abstract
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a core component of the management of a patient with chronic lung disease. The respiratory therapist plays a vital role in pulmonary rehabilitation. Identifying patients who are eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation, assessing the individual patient prior to entry into the program, providing education regarding the patient's disease, and actively participating in the exercise and training programs are just a few of the ways that the respiratory therapist can participate in this very important activity for patients with chronic lung disease.
- pulmonary rehabilitation
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- COPD
- chronic lung disease
- respiratory therapy
- disease management
Footnotes
- Correspondence: E-mail: bcarlin{at}wpahs.org.
Dr Carlin presented a version of this paper at the symposium COPD: Empowering Respiratory Therapists to Make a Difference, at the 54th International Respiratory Congress of the American Association for Respiratory Care, held December 13-16, 2008, in Anaheim, California. The symposium was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim.
- Copyright © 2009 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.
