Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Overview
The COPD Management Program at Bundaberg Base Hospital
The COPD Management Program at Hervey Bay and Maryborough Hospital
Templates
Resources
Links
The COPD Management Program at Bundaberg Base Hospital
The COPD Management Program prefers referrals from General Practitioners or Thoracic Medicine Physicians, but will also consider referrals from other Health Profes
The COPD Management Program has been designed to advise patients diagnosed with COPD and their General Practitioner, of changes that will help improve 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.
Patient’s current lung health, symptoms and management will be assessed and then individual recommendations discussed.
These may include:
• Quitting smoking
• Attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Learning to exercise safely and regularly
• Learning breathing control techniques
• Understanding how medications work
• Protecting against chest infections, and using a COPD Action Plan.
• Referral to Thoracic Medicine Physicians or other Health Professionals for specialist advice as needed
• Contacting support organisations such as the Australian Lung Foundation and their local LungNet support group.
Cost?
There are no fees for patients to attend The COPD Management Program.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation for COPD
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is one of the most effective treatments for people with COPD.
Our program 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, and improving fitness
Helping to regain confidence, and learning to control symptoms of COPD
The program is eight (8) weeks in length. Patients attend two (2) supervised exercise sessions, and two (2) education session per week. Patients are also strongly recommended to do extra unsupervised exercise sessions per week.
Assessment
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.
Exercise sessions
The program provides an opportunity to learn to exercise safely. 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.
Education sessions
The weekly education sessions are delivered by health professionals.
Topics include:
• Symptoms, causes and management of COPD
• Prevention and management of illness
• Exercise for COPD
• Use of medications in COPD
• Coping with chronic illness and management of stress and anxiety attacks
• Nutrition and Healthy eating
• Energy conservation and work simplification
• Information on available support services and good self-management strategies, including COPD Action plans and Advance Healthcare Directives
For further information contact COPD Management Program
Physiotherapy Department Outpatients
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
The COPD Management Program at Hervey Bay and Maryborough Hospitals
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. Normally it is run over a period of 6 to 8 weeks and comprises exercise and educational sessions.
At present, however, we do not have the resources to offer a full pulmonary rehabilitation program, but can see your patient in our COPD clinic instead. This clinic is run by the community physiotherapist and the community dietitian.
The aim of the clinic is to assist your patient in managing their condition. This will include advice on exercise, medications, nutrition, 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.
Contact details:
Isabel Read Physiotherapist
Karin Lategan Community Dietician
FAX: 07 4122 8709
PHONE: 07 4122 8733
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)
SC-WBHSD COPD management program & pulmonary rehabilitation referral form
Resources
ALF information on pulmonary rehabilitation
Asthma Queensland Cycle of Care
Asthma flip chart
Australian Lung Foundation COPD Action Plan
DoHA My asthma action plan
Sunshine Coast-Wide Bay HSD COPD Management Guide
SC-WBHSD Pulmonary rehabilitation program
SC-WBHSD Your lungs & COPD information sheet
Links
Asthma Australia
Asthma Foundation of Queensland
Kids with asthma
Quit Victoria
Quit WA: Quite because you can: A guide to quitting smoking and staying stopped
The Australian Lung Foundation
The COPD-X Plan: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2008
