Pulmonary rehab services at brooksville regional hospital

Bob Machamer loves playing golf with his wife. But when the 78-year-old retiree started experiencing complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, he thought his games were numbered.

"Last year, I was having trouble breathing," Machamer says. "I couldn't play one hole of golf, much less 18."

That's when Machamer's physician suggested the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Brooksville Regional Hospital. The program's dedicated staff helped Machamer get back into the swing of things.

Getting Back to Life

Brooksville's pulmonary rehab program is a progressive, low-level, low-intensity exercise program geared toward people suffering from respiratory diseases.

"We teach patients breathing techniques and how to coordinate their breathing through exercise," says Kath DeLorme, RRT, coordinator of the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Brooksville Regional Hospital. "Patients learn to manage their shortness of breath so their daily activities are easier to perform."

Participants attend hour-long exercise sessions three times per week for a total of 10 classes.

"During these sessions, we alternate between upper and lower body training," DeLorme says. "We have arm weights with pulleys and free weights for the upper body, and stationary bikes, treadmills and recumbent steppers to strengthen the lower body."

The goal of the exercise program is not to cure the respiratory disease, but to manage it. The program helps people like Machamer improve their quality of life and resume some of their daily activities. "The program enables patients to carry on with life in spite of the lung disease," DeLorme says.

Personalized Treatment by Compassionate Professionals

The exercise session is tailored to the patient's physical abilities and overall goals. This was certainly true in Bob Machamer's case. Since one of Machamer's main objectives was to get back to the golf range, the staff at Brooksville incorporated this into his treatment.

"One of the therapists brought in a training golf club, which was extremely heavy," Machamer says. "I would take the golf club into the hallway and practice my swing by hitting an imaginary ball."

After Machamer's sessions came to a close, the pulmonary rehab staff celebrated by giving the patients T-shirts and taking pictures.

"The program was fun for me and I would recommend it to anyone who has a breathing problem," Machamer says.

But the best part of the program was the improvement in his health. "I improved 1,000 percent and I've started playing golf again," Machamer says. "I can live like an active person now, rather than someone who sits around and mopes all the time. I can't say enough good things about Brooksville Regional."

If you're interested in participating in Brooksville Regional Hospital's pulmonary rehab program, talk to your physician about a referral. The program is covered by most health plans, including Medicare.
Consult your insurance carrier for details about your insurance plan.

For more information about the pulmonary rehab program, contact us at 352-797-4617.