Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Yard work, family activities, even climbing the stairs can be a struggle for individuals suffering from chronic pulmonary disease - the third cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Individuals suffering from this disease do not have to stop enjoying and performing their activities of daily living. The Duke Raleigh Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program now offers a multidisciplinary approach to individually help patients regain control of their lives.

The Program

Conveniently located on the campus of Duke Raleigh Hospital, the pulmonary rehabilitation program offers a service of excellence in pulmonary care to patients suffering from diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and other lung diseases. From increasing a patient's strength to building a patient's confidence, the program is designed to assist patients with the following:

  • Self-management of lung disease
  • Building strength and endurance
  • Increasing confidence
  • Nutritional needs
  • Education
  • Regaining control in activities of daily living including climbing the stairs and grocery shopping

The program's professional, credentialed team members develop a customized plan for each patient that enhances the patient's quality of life. Benefiting from the highly-skilled resources of four on-campus pulmonologists, the program's comprehensive rehabilitation team members include:

  • Ted Kunstling, MD - Medical Director
  • Matt Holder, RRT, RCP - Director of Special Diagnostics
  • Ginny Shabow, BS, RRT, RCP - Clinical Care Coordinator
  • Liz Holland, RN - Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Nurse
  • Meg McHenry, RD, MPH, LDN - Dietician
  • Erin Spall - Administrative Assistant

An Individualized Approach to Care

Every patient is unique. That's why the pulmonary rehabilitation team works to provide individualized resources to best suit each patient for optimal care. Participants are enrolled in the program from 10 to 18 weeks based off of their needs and come to the Wellness Center at Duke Raleigh Hospital for two, two-hour sessions each week. The multidisciplinary program includes components of each of the following, tailored to meet each patient's needs:

  • Education - Participants learn about lung anatomy and lung disease, breathing training, oxygen therapy, medications, activities of daily living, signs and symptoms of infection and stress management and nutrition.
  • Supervised exercise - A customized exercise prescription is developed for each patient that may include Pulmonary Function Testing or CardioPulmonary Exercise Testing.
  • Psychosocial Support - Through individual and group classes, patients gain counseling and support in meeting the challenges associated with lung disease to improve their quality of life.
  • Medication Management - Patients learn about respiratory drugs including oxygen and their proper use.
  • Nutritional Counseling - A nutrition class and the resources of our registered dietician are available to provide support in maintaining proper nutrition.
  • Support for the Whole Person - Many patients suffering from lung disease are depressed, worried or even feeling guilty. Program staff work to educate, physically strengthen and support patients to help them gain confidence and courage to manage their disease and improve the quality of their life.

Participating in the Program

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is open to outpatients by physician referral only. For more information, please contact Ginny Shabow at 954-4142. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Duke Raleigh Hospital
3301 Executive Drive, on the campus of Duke Raleigh Hospital
919-954-4142