STAWELL Regional Health staff get creative to support their rehabilitation patients.
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When SRH's COVID-19 response required in-person rehabilitation classes to be temporary suspended, many current attendees at the cardiology and pulmonary rehabilitation classes were missing out on their regular support programs.
Rehabilitation nurse, Viv Cole, with the support of Allied Health Assistant, Nicky Nicholson, realised that many still needed motivation and support to keep going with their exercise programs at home, but doing it on videoconferencing proved difficult last year.
Not everyone has the computer power and skills to connect via Zoom.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Ms Cole decided this time to run adjusted classes by phone - and although a huge juggling act, it proved very successful this time.
With assistance from Ms Nicholson, the two used mobile phones and landlines to support a group of 12 with exercise programs.
Ms Cole lead the class while patients could hear via phones and interact if in need of assistance.
Cardiology and Pulmonary Rehabilitation involves a program of supervised aerobic exercise and a progressive muscle resistance strengthening exercises designed to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with heart disease or chronic respiratory disease and to promote their long-term behavioural change to improve their own health-enhancing behaviours.
One client said how she really enjoyed the phone classes and how it gave her a real sense of connection while being in the safety of her home.
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