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(Hudson, Wisc.) A new pulmonary rehabilitation program at Hudson Hospital & Clinic is improving patients’ strength, endurance and breathing. The eight-week program consists of exercise, education, and support, to help patients learn to breathe—and function—at the highest level possible.

Kim Peters, Hudson Hospital & Clinic’s Rehabilitation Services manager, said, “This program helps patients function better. We’re seeing increased activity levels in patients, a decrease in their pulmonary symptoms, and in some instances, better management of anxiety and depression. “

Etta Britton, RT, a respiratory therapist, and Nick Lister, MS, a cardiac rehabilitation therapist, are leading the program at Hudson; Nick Benson, MD, a pulmonologist, is the program’s medical director. Patients are referred to the program by their physician and usually are patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (scarring of the lung tissue), cystic fibrosis or who have had lung surgery. “The main goal of this program is to improve patients’ quality of life,” said Benson. “We also intend to reduce patients’ hospitalizations and number of days in the hospital for pulmonary function related illnesses.”

Three patients recently graduated from the program including Roger Rebholz and Charles Minke, both of Hudson. “I’ve been waiting for years for this program to be available in Hudson,” said Rebholz. “It’s so convenient for me to attend consistently.”  Lynn Wagner of River Falls also graduated with Rebholz and Minke, and said since participating in the program, he’s much more active and his friends and family have noticed positive changes in him. All of the graduates reported increased strength, endurance and improvement in their breathing.

Photo: Hudson Hospital Rehabilitation Center staff congratulates the first graduates of its new pulmonary rehabilitation program. Pictured from left: Nick Lister, cardiac rehabilitation therapist; Roger Rebholz, graduate; Nick Benson, MD, pulmonologist and medical director; Lynn Wagner, graduate; and Etta Britton, respiratory therapist.