EKPCN Success Story
A new group program has revitalized respiratory health and overall well-being for some Invermere and area residents living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Supported by the East Kootenay Primary CareNetwork (EKPCN), the Pulmonary Rehab Group offered a comprehensive eight-week program combining exercise and education. The program aimed to help participants better control their lung disease, understand their medications, recognize symptoms, slow disease progression, and reduce emergency visits and hospitalizations. It ran from April through May, once a week for an hour,attracting an average of 11-14 participants each week.
Spearheaded by PCN clinical pharmacist Émilie Lamoureux and PCN respiratory therapist Pam Macdonald, the Pulmonary Rehab Group sought to empower COPD patients with personalized medical guidance, therapeutic exercises, and essential self-management strategies.
“By fostering an environment of support and education, this program aspired to improve patients' quality of life and help them achieve better health outcomes. We wanted to provide education, support, and hopefully a little motivation for exercise, helping patients better manage their diseases,” said Lamoureux, who obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)from UBC in 2019 before moving to Invermere.
The program created a supportive environment where participants connected in person, shared experiences, and learned from one another, enhancing their learning and coping strategies.
“I do a lot of one-on-one education, which is effective, but capturing a group can bring additional benefits,” said Macdonald. “Quite often COPD can be isolating, so having someone else to talk to, hearing questions you’ve wondered about yourself, and building that support network is important.”
“There’s so much benefit to getting people together in person who can support and learn from one another," added Lamoureux, expressing her desire to use the PCN’s Pulmonary Rehab Group as a model to expand group classes to include other conditions, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Another key aspect of the Pulmonary Rehab Group was introducing participants to various regional PCN providers who could assist with different aspects of COPD patients’ health. Throughout the program, participants met the PCN dietician, who discussed nutrition and COPD, a PCN social worker, a PCN chronic disease management nurse, as well as PCN registered nurses from each clinic in Invermere.
“We started the course with education about anatomy and understanding their lungs, as well as their medications, such as inhalers, creating action plans, and understanding immunization, along with the benefits of diet and exercise,” said Lamoureux. “There was huge benefit to bringing various PCN providers together to speak to the Pulmonary Rehab Group. Participants were able to get expert consultation, meet the local healthcare team, and learn how to access these providers and services.”
The collaborative effort among PCN team members not only benefited patients but also strengthened the providers' understanding of each other's roles and specialties within the EKPCN team.
As the program looks to the future, it will continue without Macdonald, who will be enjoying a well-deserved retirement after more than 46 years in respiratory therapy--from clinic and hospital to private healthcare settings and, most recently, the EKPCN. Her contributions have left a lasting impact, setting a strong foundation for continued success in pulmonary rehabilitation and beyond.
Photo Cutline: PCN clinical pharmacist Émilie Lamoureux and PCN respiratory therapist Pam Macdonald
