Gawlicki Family Foundation
HARTFORD, Conn. – July 13, 2017: Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center has received a $84,000 grant from the Gawlicki Family Foundation to implement a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program for at-risk patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“We are very grateful to the Gawlicki family for this incredible gift to support this program that will help our patients on their journey to wellness,” said Saint Francis Foundation Chief Development Officer Lynn Rossini.
With the grant, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and program director Richard L. ZuWallack, M.D., will implement a program for pulmonary rehabilitation in the home for discharged COPD patients. The home-based rehabilitation intervention will be a mechanism for enhancing patient – caregiver communication, providing necessary education, teaching self-management strategies, and promoting exercise and physical activity. In addition, an important goal will be to get the patient to transition from home-based to center-based pulmonary rehabilitation for continued care.
“This grant will allow us to improve the health of our at-risk patients,” said Daniel A. Gerardi, M.D., F.C.C.P., section chief pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. “Our goal is to help them on the path toward better health from the comfort and ease of their own homes. This home-program is just one component of a modified, comprehensive COPD management program focusing on the integrated care of our patients.”