Providence Holy Cross Medical Center has launched a new outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program, expanding access to specialized respiratory care for San Fernando Valley residents living with chronic lung conditions.
The comprehensive program combines medically supervised exercise and education to help patients improve their strength, ease symptoms and maintain greater independence. Through monitored, in-person sessions, patients work toward building endurance and developing skills to manage their condition.
“Everyday activities can become challenging for people living with chronic lung disease,” said Douglas Prisco, M.D., pulmonologist and medical director of intensive care at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. "Pulmonary rehabilitation gives patients personalized guidance in a monitored setting so they can feel more prepared to manage their condition at home."
This program is designed to complement each patient’s care plan and the treatment provided by their physician. Participants attend sessions three times a week for six to eight weeks. According to the American Lung Association, pulmonary rehabilitation can help improve lung function, reduce symptom severity, increase physical activity and improve quality of life, while potentially decreasing the need for hospital visits.
"This program expands access to specialized respiratory care for patients throughout the San Fernando Valley," said Bernie Klein, M.D., chief executive of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. "We are proud to bring this service to our community and help more patients live healthier, more independent lives."
Patients may qualify for this program if they have moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, persistent respiratory dysfunction following COVID-19 or another qualifying condition. These conditions may include lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, obesity-related respiratory disease or ventilator dependency. Patients are encouraged to speak with their health care provider about whether pulmonary rehabilitation is right for them. A physician referral is required to enroll.
The pulmonary rehabilitation program operates in the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation gym, which was recently renovated with support from the Providence Holy Cross Foundation and its generous donors.
“Our donors helped create a space that now supports patients with heart or lung conditions,” said Joanne Reyes, president and chief philanthropy officer of the Providence Holy Cross Foundation. “Using this gym for both programs extends the impact of their generosity, helping more people in our community access the support they need to regain strength and confidence in their daily lives.”
To learn more about the pulmonary rehabilitation program, call 818-496-4595 or visit the program’s website.
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About Providence Holy Cross Medical Center
Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California, is a 378-bed, not-for-profit Catholic hospital founded in 1961. Nationally recognized for clinical performance and nursing excellence, Providence Holy Cross is one of only two trauma centers in the San Fernando Valley and ranks among the nation’s best hospitals for providing high-quality patient care. Award-winning specialties include care in cancer, stroke, maternity, digestive health, cardiovascular health and orthopedics. Providence Holy Cross is part of Providence, a 52-hospital health system with a comprehensive range of services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. For more information visit: providence.org/holycross.
