Who is the BREATHE Program for? 

BREATHE is a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program that is designed to help you understand  your lung condition and improve your breathing function. This program is for people with  lung conditions including COPD, bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

 

The Program 

The program is an integrated hospital based program which runs over 8 consecutive weeks.

 

The program consists of education, exercise and relaxation sessions which we hope will help you improve your breathing.

 

Our aim is to help you learn techniques to control your breathing which will allow you to enjoy more aspects of your life with improved confidence.

 

Patients with oxygen are encouraged to attend.

 

Aims of the BREATHE Program 

The aims of the BREATHE Program at Gippsland Southern Health Service include:

•  To improve your muscle strength and the distance you can walk

• To increase your quality of life

• To increase your confidence and ability to cope with your lung condition

• To keep you out of hospital

• To learn controlled breathing techniques

 

A team of dedicated health practitioners will work with you to determine how you can improve and control your breathing so that you can get back to activities you enjoy doing.

 

The team will work with you to develop an individualised program that is relevant to your life.

 

The health team includes:

• Respiratory Nurse

• Physiotherapist

• Dietician

• Occupational Therapist

• Social Worker

• Allied Health Assistant

• Planned Activity Group Coordinator

• Pharmacist

 

Program details

Place:       

GSHS – Korumburra Hospital

Resource Room

 

Times:      

Mondays – 10.30am to 12.30pm

 

Length of Program:

8 weeks

 

Morning tea supplied.

 

At the end of the eight week program, you will be offered the opportunity to become involved in other social, educational and exercise activities that Gippsland Southern Health  Service offer.  These include planned activity groups and the Healthy Ageing and Prevention of Injury (HAPI) exercise groups.

 

Referrals to the BREATHE Program 

The BREATHE program runs at the Korumburra Campus of Gippsland Southern Health Service.

 

• Referrals can be made by General Practitioners, allied health professionals and community health professionals

 

• Self referral is also accepted

 

Other information

Transport assistance may be available.

 

The BREATHE program is available to residents who live in South Gippsland.

 

To discuss referrals contact
Kathryn Croatto - BREATHE Coordinator

Telephone: 5654 2718

 

Please note there is a small fee for this service.