Honesdale, PA – Wayne Memorial Hospital is starting up a Better Breathers Support group, primarily for people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). An American Lung Association program, the group is scheduled to meet the third Friday of every month, at 3 p.m., in the David Katz Conference Center. Patients, families and caregivers are invited.
The group will be facilitated by Megan Baumann, certified physician assistant. Baumann specializes in pulmonology and sleep medicine. She works with Sean McVeigh, MD, pulmonologist. Other facilitators include Donna Decker, RN, Wayne Memorial Community Health Manager, Jean Tuttle, WMH Community Relations and Linda Vose, a sleep technologist at Wayne Memorial’s Sleep Disorders Center. Facilitator training sessions and materials were funded by the Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Patients learn about COPD in their doctors’ offices, but many need the reinforcement of a support group. “In the office, there’s not always time to go over everything, and patients get a lot thrown at them,” said Baumann, adding, “This support group will offer them tools to enhance their quality of life, along with opportunities to meet other people with similar breathing issues.”
More about this exciting new support group was published in the January 28th edition of the Wayne Independent in the weekly Wayne Memorial Hospital Notes column.
Baumann said the hospital is also starting up a pulmonary rehabilitation program, which involves many disciplines, including nutrition and behavioral health. More information can be obtained about this, the Better Breathers Support Group and other WMH support groups related to diabetes, stroke and Alzheimers disease by calling (570) 253-8990.
Photo: Megan Bauman, PA-C, is facilitating a new support group at Wayne Memorial Hospital for people with breathing and lung issues, especially those with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD).
