Project focus: Murrumbidgee Restoring Function
Pulmonary and Heart Failure Rehabilitation
People living with chronic respiratory disease and heart failure right across the Murrumbidgee region will have greater access to assessment and rehabilitation support thanks to a refresh of our existing services.
An integral part of the Living Well initiative, Pulmonary and Heart Failure Rehabilitation – referred to as Restoring Function based on consumer feedback – is designed for people newly diagnosed with COPD and/or CHF, or who have recently experienced a flare-up. It aims to improve the individual’s health and equip them with the knowledge and support they need to confidently manage their condition and feel better in their daily lives.
To enhance access across the region, a 'combined model' of face-to-face and virtual services with physiotherapists and nurses have been developed, with face-to-face support in Wagga Wagga and real-time video-conferencing sessions either to outreach centres or direct to people’s homes. Rehabilitation is also offered at Cootamundra and Deniliquin and is being developed or trialled in Tumut, Temora, and Griffith over coming months. A fully independent home-based self-paced program is also in the pipeline.
MLHD Respiratory Clinical Nurse Consultant, Robyn Paton says this is just the beginning, with Restoring Function bringing welcome changes following interruptions to services due to COVID-19.
“Research shows that pulmonary rehabilitation improves exercise tolerance by increasing muscle strength and endurance. The education included in the program encourages self-management and helps patients recognise worsening symptoms and the action they need to take. This combination can also reduce the frequency of flare-ups, so they can stay well and out of hospital, which improves quality of life. COVID has taught us that telehealth works, so it’s really paved the way for us to think differently about how we provide this type of support in our community.”
“The hybrid model is about ensuring everyone across the region has access to the right support needed for them to lead a better quality of life at home.”
Based on current best practice and with an emphasis on promoting social connection, wellbeing and fun, the Restoring Function program includes:
A Sick Day Action Plan: an individually tailored plan to link in with community services and provide strategies for when acute symptoms develop.
Education: multidisciplinary education and information sessions around how and when to use medications and how to self-manage health at home and in the community.
Supervised Exercise: an 8-week supervised group physical activity program to build exercise tolerance, so normal daily activities such as showering, walking and hanging out the washing are made easier.
Restoring Function accepts inpatient and outpatient referrals from any healthcare professional along with self-referrals. GP/specialist consent is obtained for every participant prior to commencement in the program.
