Celebrate the Role of those Working in Pulmonary Rehab

March 10, 2008

National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week is March 16–22

Here’s a salute to all of our members working in pulmonary rehabilitation. It’s your special week to celebrate your work and use the occasion to help educate the public and other health care professionals about the important role they play in helping chronic lung disease patients regain lost functioning and improve their overall quality of life.

Earlier this year, the AARC included a special segment on the role of the respiratory therapist in pulmonary rehab in its Life and Breath video (Windows Media | QuickTime), to help raise awareness about this aspect of the profession for those making a decision to be a respiratory therapist.

Here are just a couple of links to stories that might be especially apropos for the therapist in pulmonary rehab:

• Coping with Anxiety in COPD

• Smoking Cessation for the COPD patient

• NHLBI Campaign Puts Spotlight on COPD

And if you need resource material, check out what the AARC has available in its online store.

If your rehab program is sponsoring events, please share your pictures and stories with the AARC after the week by sending them to Sherry Milligan.