Enhancements Announced to Comprehensive Respiratory Care Program

NL Health Services is announcing enhancements to the Comprehensive Respiratory Care program, which includes increased access to virtual care options for those living in rural areas of the province, as well as the addition of Pulmonary Rehabilitation services and home-based care for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

The CRC team consists of health-care professionals who work to their full scope of practice in the community setting, including respiratory therapists (RTs), a physiotherapist (PT) and clerical support. The program is overseen by the division manager and a respirologist who serves as the medical director.

The program has several key components:

• INSPIRED COPD Outreach Program focuses on patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with a recent history of an emergency room visit or hospitalization for their respiratory disease. This strategy has demonstrated a marked reduction in hospital admissions and emergency room visits.

• Comprehensive Respiratory Education Clinic – Offers respiratory assessments and diagnostic testing for those with asthma, COPD, Interstitial Lung Disease.

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation assists with improving physical activity and reducing shortness of breath for those with chronic respiratory disease. This strategy is evidence-based, and has been shown to improve health outcomes for this population.
  

The CRC team has partnered with the Neurology division in the Eastern Urban Zone to provide home-based care for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Patients with chronic respiratory symptoms are supported with a variety of techniques and equipment to improve their quality of life at home.

Last month, the team successfully facilitated the first virtual visit in Labrador Grenfell Zone at the Nain Community Clinic, in collaboration with the local health-care team.

To access the CRC program, a referral is required from the patient’s primary health care provider.