Breathe Easy, Walk Easy
Breathe Easy, Walk Easy is a training program for rural and remote health care providers. This program provides participants with the skills and knowledge to set up and evaluate local pulmonary rehabilitation programs for their patients. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence based program for patients with chronic lung disease. It is a multidisciplinary chronic lung disease program that has proven outcomes in increasing patient exercise capacity, quality of life and reducing health care utilisation.
Rural and Remote Health Professionals
All rural and remote health professionals who have patients with chronic lung disease are encouraged to attend this training. The Breathe Easy Walk Easy program has been designed to be delivered to a variety of health professionals, for example: doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health workers, community workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists and all health staff involved in the care of patients with chronic lung disease.
Training
Training is provided by expert professional trainers with extensive experience in pulmonary rehabilitation. Initial training is over 1.5 days and delivered in local areas to facilitate attendance by all staff. Training delivery is a mix of presentation, practical activities and group work.
The first day covers all the elements of pulmonary rehabilitation; patient assessment, diagnosis, management and maintenance.
The second half day of training encourages networking and assists initial development of local program/s with the aid of participants’ experience and knowledge about local practice, the training information and Resource Kit.
A Training Manual and Resource Kit is provided to all training participants. Participants have free access to all training material resources including training day PowerPoint presentations through the Breathe Easy Walk Easy SPECIAL ACCESS web page on this site.
On Going Support
On going support is provided to all training participants. Following the initial training day the trainers return to program sites to facilitate new program implementation and/ or provide additional training as requested by each area. The time of return is between 3-6 months post initial training day depending in each sites needs.
Evaluation
Evaluation is a key component of this training program. All pre and post training, on-going support and local program impact are carried out within an extensive evaluation framework. This process enables effective feedback and reporting to health services regarding training impact.
Cost
Cost of training delivery is site specific. Please contact the Lung Foundation 1800 654 301 or email enquiries@lungfoundation.com.au for options for training in your area.
