PBMC Recertified by
American Association of
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Penobscot Bay Medical Center's Pulmonary Rehabilitation program has been recertified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. This is the first three-year recertification the hospital has received.

The mission of the AACVPR is to work for improvement in the quality of life for patients and their families who live with chronic lung and heart disease.

"The goal of achieving program certification for Pulmonary Rehabilitation is to ensure that PBMC is providing the highest quality of standards for patients with chronic lung conditions in promoting lung health, preventing further lung disease, and improving quality of life," said Janey Barthelette, a registered respiratory therapist and program coordinator of the PBMC Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.

Chronic lung disease, also known as COPD, currently affects more than 16 million Americans. Long-term cigarette smoking is the major cause of this disease. It takes many years for chronic lung disease to develop before people begin to have chronic symptoms and seek medical help. Most people begin to notice disease symptoms between 50 and 70 years of age.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is designed to help people who live with chronic lung disease to improve their day-to-day physical functioning and quality of life. Pulmonary Rehabilitation services combine endurance exercise and strength training with educational programs that are designed to help patient's control and reduce breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath. It teaches prevention strategies for staying well and coping with the difficulties of living with a chronic disease.

"Living with chronic lung disease is not easy," said Barthelette. "It can greatly affect your entire way of life as symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue change a patient's level of independent functioning over time." Pulmonary Rehabilitation, together with a patient's physician, can help to improve and maximize a patient's daily functional ability and quality of life.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is an outpatient service at PBMC and is under the medical direction of Dr. Andrew Filderman, a board certified internist and pulmonologist. The PBMC Rehabilitation services are coordinated by Barthelette, who works in conjunction with other staff to evaluate patient problems and needs, provide patient education, and progressive and therapeutic strength and exercise training for greater independence and functioning.

Learn more about PBMC's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at pbmc.org/lunghealth or call Barthelette at 596-8880.