VAN BUREN, Ark. – Alisha McClary, LRCP, recently joined the Physical Therapy Department at Baptist Health-Van Buren as a pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator.
McClary has more than 20 years of experience in respiratory care. She most recently served as the director of Respiratory and Physical Therapy at Haskell County Hospital in Stigler, Oklahoma. In her new role, McClary will oversee the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Baptist Health-Van Buren.
The doctor-supervised program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and benefits those with chronic lung diseases such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis or lung tumors. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, excessive mucus, wheezing and frequent respiratory infections.
“The goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to help patients return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving their overall quality of life,” McClary said.
These goals are often met by:
- Smoking cessation
- Managing medications
- Exercises to improve lung capacity and fitness, such as walking, blowing bubbles and playing harmonica
- Patient and family education and counseling
- Assistance with obtaining respiratory equipment and portable oxygen
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with a pulmonary disease, it is important to discuss treatment options with a doctor who can refer you to the program.
Baptist Health Physical Therapy and Pulmonary Rehab Center-Van Buren is located at 2020 Chestnut St., Suite 106. For more information on the program, call (479) 471-4187.
Baptist Health is an Arkansas-based, locally owned and managed, not-for-profit, and faith-based health care organization. Baptist Health is also Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 200 access points and approximately 11,000 employees operating 11 hospitals. For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com or call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
