Adult Lung Disease - Resources for People with COPD

Resources for People with COPD
(COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease --Includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis)

LOCAL RESOURCES

American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties

Better Breathers Clubs - Meets monthly or quarterly at 6 locations in San Diego County, providing education and support for people with COPD and other kinds of lung disease. Call 619-297-3901 or 1-800-LUNG-USA.

Locations:

HelpLine: An expert team of respiratory therapists and nurses at the ALA National Call Center is standing by to answer questions about COPD and other lung disease. Access via your local ALA at 1-800-LUNG-USA or 619-297-3901 in San Diego County.

General information about COPD, plus sign up to receive e-mail alerts and news items: http://www.lungsandiego.org/copd/index.asp, or 619-297-3901

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs - Comprehensive programs which help the person with chronic lung disease toward an improved quality of life, an increased ability to perform daily activities, an increased capacity for exercise and a reduction in repeat hospitalizations. Programs consist of medical evaluation, exercise testing, psychosocial support, patient education, and physical conditioning. Of course, the most important component of any successful rehabilitation is the individual's desire and motivation to stick with the program.

The programs typically last from 6 to 8 weeks, with meetings two or three times per week. Most rehab programs offer follow up exercise maintenance classes. A few can enroll patients concurrently in smoking cessation classes.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs do require physician referral; however, you may call the offices listed to ask questions and to start the referral process. Medicare and other kinds of health care insurance cover most of the costs of a pulmonary rehabilitation program; the rehab offices will be able to assist with insurance questions as well.

Hospital-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
Palomar Pomerado Health System 555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 760-739-3685 (Program also offered in Poway) San Diego Rehabilitation Institute 6645 Alvarado Road San Diego, CA 92120 619-229-3061 Scripps Memorial Hospital 9888 Genessee Ave. La Jolla, CA 92038 858-626-6493 Sharp Grossmont Hospital 5555 Grossmont Center Drive La Mesa, CA 91942 619-740-4118	Sharp Hospital-Pulmonary Rehabilitation 7951 Birmingham Drive San Diego, CA 92123 (858) 541-3380 (Program also offered in Coronado) Tri-City Medical Center 4002 Vista Way Oceanside, CA 92056 760-940-3055 University of California, San Diego Medical Center 200 W. Arbor Drive San Diego, CA 92103-8377 619-543-7333 Sharp Coronado – Cardio Pulmonary Dept 250 Prospect Place Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-3724
Other Pulmonary Rehab Programs
Balboa Therapy Center 3969 Fourth Ave, #208 San Diego, CA 92103 619-294-7300	La Mesa Rehab 8881 Fletcher Pkwy #380 La Mesa, CA 91942 619-466-6077

Grossmont College Respiratory Therapy Home Visit Program - Respiratory therapy students, as part of their final semester of training, conduct home visits each spring for people with COPD. In two or three visits, the students will help people work through a respiratory self-care routine that fits their lifestyle. Call in December or January to reserve, 619-644-7311

VA Medical Center - Offers a 2-hour COPD Education class for eligible veterans and dependents. Call 858-552-8585, press 4, then ext. 3988

Home Medical Equipment Suppliers/Oxygen Companies
Abundant Home Care 13230 Evening Creek Dr. #206 San Diego, CA 92128 858-748-2288 Apria Health Care 9115 Activity Rd. #100 San Diego, CA 92126 (858) 653-6800	Coram Healthcare 8804 Balboa Ave. San Diego, CA 92123 (858) 576-6969 Lincare 8840 Kenamar Dr, #403 San Diego, CA 92121 858-527-1477

Research Studies

People who participate in research studies help researchers to learn more about medications and treatments, help others with chronic lung disease in the future, and may receive screening, treatment and monetary compensation for the duration of the study. Make sure you understand the risks as well as the potential benefits and discuss with your healthcare provider. The local centers listed

www.ClinicalTrials.gov - US government resource for general information about research, what it means to participate in research, and maintains lists of current research that is searchable by disease and location.

www.centerwatch.org - Includes searchable lists of studies as well as email notification system for future studies in your area of interest.

UCSD Clinical Trials Center
4094 Fourth Avenue, #200
San Diego CA 92103
1-888-UCSD-AIR (1-888-827-3247)
www.health.ucsd.edu/ntrials/ - click on emphysema or COPD

Allergy Associates Medical Group, The Research Center
6386 Alvarado Court, #210
San Diego, CA 92120
619-229-2355
www.aaamg.com/Studies/studies.html

Institute of Healthcare Assessment Inc.
6699 Alvarado Rd, #2309
San Diego, CA 92120
www.ihcainc.com
619-582-5564

National COPD/Adult Lung Resources

American Lung Association - Has an interactive COPD Profiler to help with treatment decisions, an e-newsletter, and general information. www.lungusa.org

COPD International - Online resource for people with COPD, family members and caregivers with interactive support and education. Includes Chat Room, message boards, and educational information. A must-read: The COPD Survival Guide. http://www.copd-international.com/

National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. 1400 Jackson Street Denver, CO 80206. 800-344-5864, 303-388-4461. This nonsectarian medical center offers patient education materials and provides an information service called the "Lung Line." The "Lung Line" is staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) by registered nurses specializing in respiratory and immune system disorders. Helps callers nationally, including those from San Diego County. http://www.njc.org

National Home Oxygen Patients Association - Non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those who use supplementary oxygen. Organization goals include: serving as a clearinghouse of information about oxygen, including traveling, new research and equipment, to coordinate research, serve as an ombudsman for common patient problems, coordinating advocacy efforts, assist patients who require oxygen when flying. Membership is $15/year and includes a monthly newsletter. NHOPA, P.O. Box 96767, Washington, DC 20090-6767. Phone: 1-888-NHOPA-44. www.nhopa.org

Pulmonary Education Research Foundation - Non-profit organization sponsoring research about pulmonary rehab and other treatments of benefit to adults with lung disease. Also produces patient education booklets and videos. Publishes a bi-monthly newsletter. PERF, P.O. Box 1133, Lomita, CA 90717-5133. (310)539-8390. http://www.perf2ndwind.org/

National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP), is a new healthcare initiative designed to identify and to treat patients in the early stages of emphysema and related chronic bronchitis. The NLHEP is directed to both primary care physicians and to patients. http://www.nlhep.org/

Portable Oxygen: A User's Perspective. New to oxygen therapy? This site is about supplemental home and portable oxygen. The information you see here is collected from manufacturers, providers, and patients just like you. Its owner, Pete Wilson, is a oxygen patient who is both a researcher and an advocate for you. Learn here about how you breathe, then learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about oxygen therapy. http://www.portableoxygen.org/index.html

Books/Publications

Better Breathers Traveler, A Travel Guide for People with Chronic Lung Conditions, by American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, 2001. People with stable lung disease should be able to travel; this book shows you step by step how to plan and conduct a successful trip. Call 1-800-LUNG-USA or 619-297-3901 to ask questions and/or to order.

Breathe Well - A quarterly educational newsletter about COPD, provided as a service from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Available free of charge by calling 800-273-8985.

The COPD Digest - A quarterly magazine providing relevant resources, research, reports and advice for people with COPD. Published by the COPD Foundation, P.O. Box 34107, Washington DC 20043. Subscription is free by calling 1-866-316-COPD(2673) or contacting www.COPDdigest.org.

Life and Breath: Preventing, Treating and Reversing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Neil Schachter, MD, 2003. Published by Broadway Books, New York.
Second Wind - Bi-monthly newsletter published by PERF, The Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation. http://www.perf2ndwind.org/ Available at no cost online. To be mailed copies, a donation of $20 is requested to help offset costs. P.O. Box 1133 Lomita, California 90717-5133. Fax (310) 539-8390 Tel(310) 539-8390
The Pulmonary Paper - A national newsletter ($17.95 per year for 8 issues) providing networking, support, idea exchange, and lung disease research and treatment updates. The Pulmonary Paper, P.O. Box 877, Ormond Beach, FL 32175. 1-800-950-3698. http://www.pulmonarypaper.org/

Shortness of Breath: A Guide to Better Living and Breathing, 6th edition By Andrew L. Ries, et al, August 2000. Published by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. Used in pulmonary rehabilitation programs for its concise, friendly, helpful approach.

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The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health.