Texas hospital helps rural community breathe easier
At Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville, a new pulmonary rehabilitation program is transforming the way chronic respiratory diseases are treated in rural Erath County. Recognizing the urgent need for localized care, the hospital launched this initiative to help patients manage conditions like COPD, asthma and bronchitis — illnesses that are often more prevalent and underdiagnosed in rural areas.
“We wanted to offer the community a new program and prevent multiple hospital admissions from patients dealing with chronic breathing issues,” said Brandie Williams, M.D., medical director of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program. “Our goal was to address the needs of Stephenville residents by meeting them where they live and helping them improve their breathing conditions and lifestyle.”
The 12-week program, housed within the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation facility, offers more than just supervised exercise. “Pulmonary rehab will provide them with resourceful tools to manage their chronic conditions,” said Casey Accaputo, B.H.A., RRT, director of the Cardiopulmonary Program. “We offer the necessary nutritional guidance, effective breathing techniques and constant emotional support our patients need and deserve.”