Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD: A Review of Recent Literature Video Available

The US COPD Coalition was honored to feature Allison Cihla, MD, Medical Director of Intensive Care and Cardiopulmonary Services at Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood, WV, as she presented an excellent review of the latest literature on the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD

Topics covered include:

• Learn about recent research in the field of pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Is pulmonary rehabilitation available everywhere?
• How do participants benefit?
• Are there benefits beyond the respiratory system?
• Is there value in maintenance programs?
• How can we effectively deliver pulmonary rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Explore these questions and more.

In addition to the topics listed above, Dr. Cihla answered many questions about pulmonary rehabilitation that were asked by webinar attendees.

Click on the button below to view the recording of this very informative webinar.

Support Respiratory Therapists and the Patients They Serve

Ask your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the CONNECT for Health Act and the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act when they are reintroduced!

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), a member of the US COPD Coalition, is a strong advocate for the respiratory care profession and patients who suffer from chronic respiratory disease. You can help support AARC’s efforts by reviewing the legislative initiatives below that are most important to the Association and contacting your Members of Congress to request they co-sponsor this legislation. Co-sponsorship of important legislation is critical to moving it through the legislative process and your participation makes a difference.

For 2021, the AARC is focusing on two bills that they are asking Members of Congress to co-sponsor when they are reintroduced in the 117th Congress. They are:

CONNECT (Creating Opportunities Now for New and Effective Care Technologies) for Health Act: This bill was re-introduced in the US Senate and the US House of Representatives on April 29th (S.1512 and H.R. 2903). AARC advocated for this legislation last year. The bill retains the provision to allow health care professionals, such as respiratory therapists, who are not included in current telehealth law, to provide telehealth services as part of the innovative payment models being tested by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center. It will expand telehealth access by RTs that can lead to better patient outcomes and lower costs.

Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act: Respiratory therapists will be included in this workforce bill that aims to improve diversity in the allied health fields of respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology and audiology. The bill would provide grants and scholarships to students from racial and ethnic minorities to increase retention in these underrepresented programs and the completion of an associate, bachelor, master’s, or doctoral degree.

How can you help?

You can easily send personalized messages by clicking on the “Take Action Here” button below. Simply answer a few brief multiple choice questions that will translate to a single message to send to House and Senate lawmakers.  It’s that simple.