Suggestions for establishment of pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the second greatest cause of disability in the USA. COPD rehabilitation programs can reduce numbers of rehospitalizations, reduce overall costs of care, and improve the quality of patients' lives. A rehabilitation program must address both physical and emotional disability and must be designed for the individual patient's unique life-pattern. The program should be a team effort, involving physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, psychologists, social workers, and, at times, other allied health personnel. Respiratory therapists can participate in pulmonary rehabilitation programs in program design and evaluation, in interviewing, educating, and counseling patients and families, by performing respiratory and physical therapy, and in vital research on costs and benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation. In addition, some respiratory therapy managers may direct financial management of such programs.