Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a supervised education and exercise program designed to help people with breathing problems return to a healthier and more active life. 

In 2016, through the generous support of The Dorney Koppel Family Charitable Foundation and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Grace Anne Dorney Pulmonary Rehabilitation Centers, located at our Lincoln Primary Care Center and SWVHS-Man health centers, were established.  For over 7 years, our talented Pulmonary Rehabilitation team members have been helping patients with breathing problems in the communities we serve return to a healthier and more active life. 

The program helps patients with diseases referred to as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which include: 

• Emphysema 
• Chronic Bronchitis 
• Asthma 

And helps patients who are diagnosed with: 

• Black Lung Disease 

During our 12-week program, our professional staff monitors each patient closely and adjusts the goals to fit each patient’s individual needs. Participants will share the rehab experience and gain mutual support with other patients in the program. A typical rehab group will have four to six patients.  The program is simple, yet powerful, and has three basic parts: 

• A complete medical history and physical evaluation with testing to measure breathing capacity 
• Education of patients and family members regarding the nature of breathing problems and how patients can better manage their disease 
• Mild, supervised exercise therapy to improve muscle conditioning, heart fitness and breathing 

How do I schedule an appointment?  

In order to participate in this program, you will need a referral from your primary care provider. We accept outside referrals as well as referrals from our primary care providers. During your appointment with your primary care provider, mention your interest in our program. If you have any questions, please call: 304-824-5806 ext. 1276, and speak with a member of our Pulmonary Rehabilitation team.  

If you are in need of a primary care provider, we are accepting new patients at all of our locations, and we would be happy to schedule an appointment for you. Call the location nearest you to schedule an appointment.  

What will I learn in the program? 

Knowledge is essential to take control of your breathing problem. You will learn: 

• How your breathing system works 
• Exercises to improve your breathing 
• Proper use of medications 
• Relaxation techniques 
• How your diet impacts your breathing 
• How to understand medical test results 
• How to stop smoking 

Is the program available on different days and at various times during the week? 

Yes!  Depending upon location, our pulmonary rehabilitation programs are conducted:  

• Our LPCC location conducts the program on Mondays and Thursdays, with flexible schedule availability between 9am and 4pm.   
• Our Man location conducts the program on Wednesdays and Fridays, with flexible schedule availability between 9am and 4pm. 

More often than not, we are able to work with each patient to select a day of the week and time that can be maintained throughout the program period.  If a situation arises where the patient may need to rearrange their appointment due to an illness or emergency, we can work to reschedule the session in a timely manner. 

What should I wear to make my appointments easier to conduct? 

Patients should come dressed with the idea in mind that they are going to exercise.  Dress comfortably in clothing that allows you to move easily and shoes that allow you to maintain balance.  Flip flops or tight-fitting clothing would be attire that would prohibit a patient from the best session experience. 

What is a typical first appointment like? 

The patient’s first appointment is an information gathering session to learn about the patient’s individual health situation.  We ask questions that include: 

• Your medical history 
• Respiratory-focused questions to understand the severity of each patient’s symptoms 
• Learn what led each patient to our program 

It is important to remember that this is a time to get to know our pulmonary rehab team members as well.  We encourage you to ask them questions along the way in order to have the best outcomes possible during the program. 

Will my first appointment include my first exercise session? 

Yes! The patient’s first exercise session will occur in the first appointment as is conducted in a slow and steady fashion.  We find most of our patients haven’t been able to participate in regular exercise activities for quite some time, so we begin with low physical workloads in short time intervals.  The first exercise session allows our team to focus on how the patient’s body responds to exercise. Afterward, we wrap up with an educational topic. 

What is the goal of each of my sessions, after my first appointment? 

The goal of each session is to steadily build the patient’s ability to increase their level of activity little by little.   

Is there something that surprises your patients as they move through the program? 

As patients move through the pulmonary rehabilitation program sessions, they begin to see the workload level and/or total time spent on a certain piece of exercise equipment increase and are able to reflect on how far they have progressed since their first exercise session.  During the program we measure: 

• The pre-and-post outcomes of the patient  
• Adjust activity goals to increase program success and patient achievements 

Why the name, “Grace Anne Dorney Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center?” 

Grace Anne Dorney had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Back in 2001, the disease was taking over her life. Her daily activities were becoming more and more restricted, and she was told she had only a few years to live. It was then that she learned about pulmonary rehabilitation for people who suffered with COPD. She immersed herself in the program of exercise, education about the disease and how to deal with it. As a result, her life was restored, and Grace Anne has become a dedicated national advocate for pulmonary rehabilitation. In addition, she and her husband, Ted Koppel, the well-known television news anchorman, have used their family foundation toward the establishment of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in communities of high need for the service. 

The Dorney Koppel Family Charitable Foundation has provided financial support and guidance in starting the rehab program at Southern West Virginia Health System. The name of our program is therefore in tribute to a COPD patient who used pulmonary rehabilitation to take control of her disease, restore her life and help many thousands of other deserving individuals breathe easier.