At home dimension

There are three dimensions, or approaches, to pulmonary rehabilitation: namely, intrahospital, outpatient and at home. One of these dimensions will likely correspond better to your milieu and the needs of your patients than the other two.

The at home dimension entails a structured program of physical exercise that is done in the patient's home. The patient also receives instruction from health care professionals who will go to their home, or when the patient himself or herself goes to visit the clinic or hospital.

Particularities

The equipment necessary for doing the physical exercise may belong to the patient or be lent to the latter by the health institution that is working with the patient. Such a program is possible when collaboration between home care services and the hospital in the region is reliable and sound.

Principal benefits of such a program:

The patient doesn't have to go back and forth or wait for a bed in a hospital centre. In addition, a study has demonstrated that a home program is a practical solution, whose effectiveness is equal to what is achieved in outpatient programs. (BRUM Study, 2007, Maltais et al., Ann Int Med, 149, 2008.)

List of the institutions that have established an "at home" type program:

Region 02 Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean:

CSSS Chicoutimi
CSSS Maria-Chapdelaine
CSSS Domaine-du-Roy
CSSS Jonquière
CSSS Cléophas-Claveau

Region 03 Capitale-Nationale:

Hôpital Laval and PPMC
CHUQ Enfant-Jésus

Region 06 Montreal:

Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
Montreal Chest Institute

Region 11 Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine:

CSSS Haute-Gaspésie

Region 12 Chaudière-Appalaches:

CSSS Région Thetford

Region 13 Laval:

Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital