Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Overview
The COPD Chronic Disease Management Program and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Bundaberg Hospital
Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Hervey Bay and Maryborough Hospitals
Templates
Resources
Links
The COPD Chronic Disease Management Program and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Bundaberg Hospital
This program prefers referrals from General Practitioners or Thoracic Medicine Physicians, but will also consider referrals from other Health Professionals. This program has been designed to advise patients diagnosed with COPD, of changes that will help improve their respiratory symptoms and their quality of life. The program operates in line with the National COPD program guidelines developed by the Australian Lung Foundation and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Recommendations may include:
- Smoking cessation advice and support
- Attendance at formal 8 week Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Development of individualised exercise programs
- Learning breathing control techniques
- Prescription of airway clearance techniques
- Education on optimal medication delivery device technique
- Protecting against chest infections, and use of a COPD Action Plan.
- Referral to other multi-disciplinary Health Professionals for advice as needed
- Linking patients with support organisations such as the Australian Lung Foundation and their local LungNet support group.
Cost: This is Queensland Health funded program. There are no fees for patients to attend The COPD Program.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation for COPD
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is one of the most effective treatments for people with COPD. Our program is eight (8) weeks in length, and operates in line with recommended national and international guidelines and available evidence. Studies have shown that Pulmonary Rehabilitation can have significant effect in improving quality of life, reducing shortness of breath, especially with activity, improving fitness, helping to regain confidence, and learning to control symptoms of COPD. All patients must have a recent medical clearance from their doctor or specialist to participate in the exercise sessions of the program. All patients also complete a comprehensive assessment before and after the program which includes measuring lung function, doing walking tests, and filling out questionnaires about dyspnoea and quality of life.
The eight week program provides an opportunity to learn to exercise safely in a supervised setting. Each person's exercise capacity is assessed individually prior to the program. After reviewing the assessment results, a trained health professional then safely guides and challenges the patient in exercise activity over the eight week program. Patients will also be encouraged to exercise at home. The exercise sessions are conducted in small groups and are supervised by a trained health professional.
Contact details:
COPD Program & Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Main Block Level 1 Bundaberg Hospital
PO Box 34 Bundaberg Qld 4670
Phone: 07 4150 2550
Fax: 07 4150 2579
Email: WideBay-COPD-Program@health.qld.gov.au
Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm
COPD Referral form
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program for people with a chronic lung condition who suffer from dyspnoea, deconditioning and ‘difficulty in coping’ with their chronic disease.
Patients are assessed in the COPD clinic which is run by the community physiotherapist. The aim of the clinic is to assist your patient in managing their condition. This will include advice on exercise, medications, smoking cessation, energy conservation and stress management, as well as having a management plan in place for acute respiratory exacerbations. You will of course be sent a report detailing your patient’s visit.
Suitable patients will then be encouraged to attend the exercise component of the pulmonary rehabilitation program. This is a twice weekly gym session supervised by a physiotherapist at the Blue Care Allied Health centre in Hervey Bay. Patients should try and attend twice a week for 8 weeks. There is a small cost for the gym sessions.
Contact details:
Community Physiotherapist
Phone: 4122 8733
Fax: 4122 8709
PULMONARY REHABILITATION/COPD CLINIC
Inclusion Criteria include:
• Have stable COPD or other respiratory condition without acute illness.
• Independently mobile – can have mobility aid
• Intact cognition
• Wants to attend
• Oxygen dependent can be included
• Smokers can still attend and receive support with smoking cessation.
Exclusion Criteria include:
• Unstable Cardiovascular disease (eg unstable angina, aortic valve disease, unstable pulmonary hypertension)
• Heart Failure – left heart (refer to Heart Failure Service)
• Unstable Psychiatric Disorder
• Known metastatic cancer
HOW TO REFER
Please complete the referral form and fax to Community Health on 4122 8709
Templates
Bundaberg Hospital COPD referral form
Hervey Bay & Maryborough Hospitals COPD referral form
MBS item 721 Asthma General Practice Management Plan (GPMP template)
MBS item 723 Asthma Team Care Arrangements (TCA template)
Resources
Australian Lung Foundation GP resources
Asthma Action Plan
Asthma flip chart
Australian Lung Foundation COPD-X Plan (updated August 2011)
Fraser Coast COPD Management Guide
Links
Asthma Foundation
Kids with asthma
Quit Smoking Victoria
The Australian Lung Foundation: The COPD-X Plan: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2011
