Did you know that pulmonary rehab programs are only available in about 35% of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)?1 Thankfully, Sidney Regional Medical Center is one of the few CAHs that offers pulmonary rehab. This program is for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or other lung condition that causes severe breathing difficulties. SRMC opened Pulmonary Rehab in 2023, led by Pulmonary Rehab Coordinator and Registered Respiratory Therapist Shanna Misegadis and Registered Nurse Lucinda Miller. The SRMC Pulmonary Rehab Program has helped numerous patients overcome their breathing difficulties and find joy in life again. The benefits of pulmonary rehab (PR) have been most significant for two patients: John Persinger and Bonnie West.
For both patients, PR was required before and after major surgeries. Patients are required to complete pulmonary rehab prior to surgery to help them increase their strength and recover faster from surgery. PR allows patients to build muscle strength, improve breathing, conserve energy, and ultimately, have the stamina necessary to recover from a major surgery. Bonnie is the first PR patient to receive an endobronchial (lung) valve. While she did not have the surgery at Sidney Regional Medical Center (SRMC), she was able to attend PR at SRMC beforehand, which helped her qualify for the surgery. Bonnie was diagnosed with stage 3 COPD around 2015, when she noticed she was experiencing shortness of breath, couldn’t walk properly, and was lacking air when lifting items. COPD paired with her allergies made life difficult for Bonnie, who loves being outdoors.
Bonnie explained, “Before pulmonary rehab, to tell you the truth, I was lazy because I knew being active wiped me out. You’re afraid you can’t breathe, so you don’t try. You think your life is over.” She longed to simply walk with her children and grandchildren again. When she began PR with Shanna Misegadis, Bonnie was surprised by all the exercises she had to do, especially the arm workouts. She utilized the arm machine, bicycle, treadmill, and more to increase her stamina. When she wasn’t on a machine, Shanna was showing her breathing exercises. Only two weeks after starting rehab, Bonnie began to see improvement. She noticed that she was able to get things done around her house that she hadn’t been able to do before! She had more energy, more motivation, and felt like she could breathe easier.
After visiting with our pulmonologist, Dr. Bryan McVay, Bonnie was finally deemed healthy enough to receive new lung valves. Dr. McVay referred her to the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins to receive surgery for the lung valves in February. “I was more aware of my breathing after surgery in a way I never would’ve been without rehab,” she stated. Bonnie is extremely grateful for pulmonary rehab as it has given her a better outlook on life. She strongly encourages people to try PR, especially those diagnosed with COPD. She said, “If you take care of yourself, you’ll have things to look forward to. It’s really beneficial. I’m hoping more people will come in for rehab.” For her, the people alone make a huge difference: Shanna and Lucinda explained everything well, worked together to help Bonnie, and encouraged her during the difficult exercises and mental road blocks. Thanks to pulmonary rehab, Bonnie has her life back and is able to go on walks with her family again.
John Persinger couldn’t agree more. He sang Shanna’s praises even during a difficult exercise. John was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in January 2024, necessitating a bilateral lung transplant. He is now the first patient in pulmonary rehab to have received a bilateral lung transplant! This procedure removes both diseased lungs and replaces them with a donor’s healthy lungs. Although pulmonary rehab was easier than he expected at the beginning, he could tell it was helping him breathe better. Starting in April 2024, John spent 6 weeks in pulmonary rehab and moved on to the maintenance program for a couple weeks before he received the transplant. At the beginning of PR, he was on 2.5 liters of oxygen. By the end of 6 weeks, he was completely off oxygen!
John stated, “Having pulmonary rehab available in Sidney was a necessity really.” His closest option would have been Scottsbluff, but as a Sidney resident, a two-hour drive would’ve been difficult to maintain with two appointments a week for 6 weeks straight, especially on oxygen. John declared his favorite part about pulmonary rehab has been Shanna. “Honestly, that’s true,” he said, “I went to another rehab facility, and they weren’t as personable or friendly as Shanna.” The comradery between Shanna and John is delightful to watch, because you can tell that Shanna takes the time to talk to her patients and get to know them rather than treating them like a cog in the wheel. John feels like the greatest benefit from pulmonary rehab has been the mental improvement. “I don’t really feel like going out or getting out of bed some days, but once I get here, I’m always glad I did,” he professed. His motivation and joy has improved dramatically since he began pulmonary rehab over 1 year ago!
Pulmonary rehab changes people’s quality of life and gives them hope. While there are no cures for certain conditions, pulmonary rehab can help patients feel better, breathe better, and extend their lifespan. The SRMC Pulmonary Rehab Department makes it possible for patients like John Persinger and Bonnie West to receive critical surgeries, recover from those surgeries, and feel like themselves again.
References:
1. Rural Health Information Hub: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/rural-monitor/pulmonary-rehabilitation
