AHSC Lung Education Program –
helping people breathe easier

The AHSC Lung Education Program provides a unique self-management education for patients and families who live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or what is more commonly known as chronic lung disease. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema are very serious lung conditions and it is very important for a person to know how to manage his or her breathing problems.

The materials used in the Lung Education Program were developed by a team of professionals from Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation. This multidisciplinary program empowers patients to achieve control over the symptoms of their lung disease, improving quality of life for patients and their families.

The goals of the program are:

• To enhance health promotion/education to patients living with lung disease, and their families.

• To provide self-management techniques to support the patient’s degree of risk/severity.

• To improve the quality of care to both patients and their families.

• To support patient, physician and health care team partnerships.

• To reduce use of the health care system.

The program teaches patients and family members:

• How the lung works

• How to use medications

• Side effects of medication

• Benefits of proper nutrition

• Breathing exercises to help cope with shortness of breath

• How to control symptoms of breathing problems

• How to avoid things that make breathing difficult

This comprehensive teaching tool can be purchased and includes a video version sponsored by Boehringer Ingleheim, which may be borrowed.  For more information please call Bonnie McGraw, at (506) 632-5507, or e-mail: mcgbo@reg2.health.nb.ca.

For patient/family registration for the 5-hour program, call the Community Health Centre, (506) 632-5700..

Last Updated: July 19, 2005