The prerequisites for success

An optimal strategy should include the patient AND the physician - this is the foundation of the team and the partnership:

Identify the needs in terms of a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the region (competition in the community?)
Evaluate the opportunities and challenges of the existing infrastructure (e.g.: parking, accessibility).
Define the rehabilitation services and estimate the cost.
Identify a cohort of referring physicians and front line professionals.
Promote the program (e.g.: patient testimonials, transmission of results to physicians).
Do some advertising (e.g.: newspapers, television, media interviews, wellness campaigns, Web sites, etc.).
Promote pulmonary rehabilitation during national/international weeks devoted to it.
Plan for a mechanism that will encourage the very first patients to re-register in the program after a certain lapse of time.

To sum up, success is based upon many different factors:

Effective management practices and a well-organized program structure
A motivated and proactive medical director
A motivating, inspiring and inclusive medical coordinator, with proven leadership skills
Support from the organization's decision-makers
A dedicated, enthusiastic and well-informed interdisciplinary team
Access to relevant documentation and reliable data

Without forgetting communications and interaction!

The effectiveness of the interdisciplinary team depends upon a satisfactory communications system. Team meetings will foster interaction. These meetings should be held at the beginning and at the end of a program. Their purpose is to enable the practitioners to discuss the following elements:

Data from the patient's medical history and medical exam
Results of medical tests
Evaluations made by members of the team
Specific targets or problems identified
Personalized treatment plans
Progress made by the patients
Review of the treatment plans, when necessary
Post-program needs

Stable long-term funding

The question of funding is an unavoidable dimension that can make or break the establishment and/or survival of the program. When funding comes from private sources, it is strongly recommended to make medium-term agreements (3 to 5 years).