Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in Minnesota

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) at Mayo Clinic is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of specialists who provide rehabilitative care to people who have chronic pulmonary disease and their families. The team includes pulmonary physicians, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and dietitians who have expertise in the care of patients with chronic pulmonary disease. The comprehensive evaluation, educational and exercise components are covered on an outpatient or inpatient basis.

Objectives of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

The goals of the program are to improve the quality of life of individuals with chronic pulmonary disease by meeting the following objectives:

• To provide the individual with a better understanding of his/her disease process.
• To assist the individual in developing methods to cope with his/her disease.
• To promote and maintain improvement in physical capabilities.
• To develop in the individual a perception of well-being.
• To decrease the number of hospitalizations.

Eligibility for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Any individual who has a chronic pulmonary disease that affects their functional status, and therefore their quality of life, are candidates for pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or neuromuscular disease may benefit from participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

An evaluation by a Mayo pulmonary physician is required. Appointments can be made by calling (507) 284-2079.

Program Details

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation program has numerous components, which include but are not limited to the following:

• Education sessions discussing breathing techniques, disease processes, respiratory medications, oxygen therapy, exercise techniques
• Exercise reconditioning sessions
• Oxygen dosing (when appropriate)
• Nutrition education session
• Energy conservation techniques
• Individualized session regarding results of tests, program recommendations, exercise prescription, and to respond to any questions from the patient
• Recommend to physician any changes or additional tests that are deemed necessary (O2 therapy, overnight oximetry, ABG's, and medication changes, etc.)

A typical length of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is six to ten weeks, but for those patients not able to commit to that length of stay in Rochester, we offer the Quick Start option. The Quick Start program is a two-day program which includes all of the educational components along with a minimum of two aerobic training sessions. Then, the patient is connected to a health facility in or near the area in which the live where they can complete the remainder of the required exercise training sessions. The local facility will be provided with specific guidelines for the patient. We also require that the facility provide us with summaries of the patient's progress on a regular basis.