Eastern Health is implementing a new two-pronged respiratory care program.

The comprehensive respiratory care program will make it easier for patients with chronic respiratory illness, such as COPD, to access care in their community, and is made up of two elements.

The first, the Inspired COPD Outreach Program, will support those living with COPD in their own homes by educating them and providing them with the tools to better self-manage and prevent the disease from worsening. A Registered Respiratory Therapist will create an action plan with the patient and their primary care provider on how to best navigate the health system.

The second is a new in-person comprehensive respiratory education clinic located at United Shores Health Centre in Holyrood. The clinic offers a dedicated service for patients with respiratory disease. Through training at the clinic, patients will learn more about their disease inhaler techniques, and preventative strategies. The clinic will also offer spirometry, a breathing test that is fundamental to airway disease diagnosis.

The program is referral based.