1226252pulmonaryrehab

Mercy Cardiac Fitness Centers

Where are classes offered?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Education classes for pulmonary rehabilitation are held Tuesdays and Thursdays in the community education rooms at the Mercy Health Mall, 1010 N. Washington St., Janesville, WI. Exercise classes for pulmonary rehabilitation are also held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Mercy Cardiac Fitness Center at the Mercy Health Mall.

Is pulmonary rehabilitation covered by insurance?

Most insurance companies cover the Phase II program for up to 36 sessions (Medicare usually covers 80 percent for 36 sessions).

You are responsible for checking with your insurance company regarding coverage.

Phase III is available for a small out-ofpocket fee.

Mercy Cardiac Fitness Center 1010 N. Washington St., Janesville, WI 608.755.7996

MercyHealthSystem.org/CardiacFitness 1226252_08/14

What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Mercy Health System is designed for people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis. It is also designed for non-obstructive lung disease such as interstitial and neuromuscular disease, and trauma from acute lung injury or thoracic surgery.

Individuals afflicted with these conditions may have shortness of breath, experience limited daily activities, panic attacks and frequent hospital stays. Mercy Health System’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program can improve functional capacity and limitations through a tailored program of education and exercise training.

Offered on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, Mercy’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program consists of three phases:

Phase I – Inpatient One–on–one bedside education is individualized to meet each patient’s unique needs. In addition to education, some patients may be ready to begin low-level bedside exercise and/or ambulation. Patients may also enroll in Phase II or outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation.

Phase II – Outpatient During Phase II, participants attend education classes covering topics that teach them about lung disease, breathing retraining exercises, oxygen, stress reduction, medications, inhalers, infection control and nutrition.

In conjunction with classroom education, patients participate in up to 36 exercise

training sessions. Although many patients don’t have the strength or breath to walk across a room or lift their arms over their heads when they begin rehabilitation, the program consistently enables most participants to walk on the treadmill or ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes.

Phase II participants experience a substantial decrease in their shortness of breath, increased strength and endurance, substantial improvement in their ability to perform daily activities, and enhanced quality of life.

Generally, most are more confident in the management of their disease with reductions in panic and stress.

Phase III – Outpatient Patients who have completed Phase II have the option of using the Mercy Cardiac Fitness Center during designated hours for exercise maintenance.

How do I get started?

You must have a referral from your physician before starting the program. The referral process also includes asking your physician to provide pertinent medical history to document medical necessity for pulmonary rehabilitation. You may want discuss your eligibility with your physician. We will call you if we receive a referral from your physician or you may call Mercy’s Cardiac Fitness Center at (608) 755-7996 for assistance with this process.

Once the referral process is complete, an orientation appointment will be made with the pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator.

During this visit, we review our pulmonary rehabilitation program, your medical history and lifestyle habits. Together, we will set goals and address any areas that need personal attention. As you advance through the program, your progress will be communicated to your physician.