Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Breathing Easier – A Guide for Asthma and COPD Patients in the Champlain Region
New Local Patient Guide Available for People Living with Lung Disease
OTTAWA – On this World COPD Day, health partners in the Champlain region are pleased to release a revised patient guide called Breathing Easier – A Guide for Asthma and COPD Patients in the Champlain Region. The guide can help individuals to better manage their lung disease and to improve their quality of life.
“Breathing Easier is a great resource to help individuals navigate the local health system and gain better control of their lung disease, with an aim to reduce the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations,” says Chantale LeClerc, CEO of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). “This aligns with the LHIN’s key priority of ensuring more people with complex health conditions are able to manage their conditions.”
The easy-to-use booklet identifies health services offered in various communities across the Champlain region, and explains how to access them. For example, the guide provides valuable information on local quit-smoking programs, asthma and COPD education programs, respiratory rehabilitation programs, non-urgent transportation, home care, and hospice palliative care. The guide is also a useful resource for family members, friends, caregivers, and health care providers.
“Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can cause significant disability and premature death,” says Laurie Taylor, Registered Respiratory Therapist and Lung Health Coordinator at Somerset West Community Health Centre. “Lung health education, specialized exercises, and smoking cessation can help patients to improve their breathing and their overall health, and to reduce lost work and school days. Individuals with lung disease and their health care providers can use Breathing Easier to find support services in our community.”
Breathing Easier is produced locally by patients and health providers in the Champlain Lung Health Network with leadership from Somerset West Community Health Centre. The Champlain LHIN funded the project and also provided support.
The guide is available in English and French. Download a copy from the Champlain LHIN website, or email Laurie Taylor (ltaylor@swchc.on.ca) to request a print edition.
“The Government of Ontario is committed to protecting the health of our residents by providing them with the resources they need to manage and control their lung disease,” says Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi. “I am confident that Breathing Easier will help patients, family members, friends and caregivers navigate through our local health system and identify programs and support services available in our community.”
Partners of the Champlain Lung Health Network include:
- Arnprior Family Health Team
- Champlain Local Health Integration Network
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
- Cornwall Community Hospital
- Hawkesbury & District General Hospital
- Kemptville District Hospital
- Lower Outaouais Family Health Team
- North Lanark County Community Health Centre
- The Lung Association (Ottawa, Renfrew County, Cornwall Community Office)
- The Ottawa Hospital
- The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
- The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Queensway Carleton Hospital
- Seaway Valley Community Health Centre
- Somerset West Community Health Centre
- University of Ottawa, School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Quick Facts:
- 10% of all Champlain residents have asthma.
- In the Champlain region, asthma accounted for:
- 49,166 general practitioner and family physician visits in 2011–2012
- 4,781 emergency department visits in 2013–2014
- 325 hospitalizations in 2013–2014.
- 3.7% of Champlain residents have COPD, yet COPD is the leading cause for hospitalization in the Champlain region.
- COPD is one of the top three reasons for hospital readmissions within 30 days in the Champlain region. Early diagnosis and treatment, and access to community services may help to prevent readmissions and to reduce health care costs.
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