Taking action for lung health

Letters from Rally* urge change
COPD Respriatory Rally* recap
H1N1 vaccinations a success!
Announcing lung cancer trials
Tell CTA to apply for funding to clean up polluting buses

*Effective January 2010, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago changed the name of its COPD educational conference to Living Better Together COPD Conference. For more information, visit our Living Better Together page. 

Letters from Rally* urge change

At our annual COPD conference, more than 200 people wrote letters to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

"I am a four-year lung cancer survivor with COPD. I truly don't think I would be alive without the rehab." - Mary

"From improving [patients'] general health, increasing their ability to deal with daily activities and getting them out to enjoy life once again, pulmonary rehab is invaluable." - Linda, RN.

Letters like Mary's and Linda's called on Secretary Sebelius to improve Medicare coverage for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Specifically, the letters urged the department to: increase programming for COPD; improve coverage of oxygen therapy; and improve coverage of pulmonary rehab.

On November 20, Respiratory Health Association staff hand delivered those letters to HHS staff in Washington, D.C. In the hands of key decision-makers, these letters will serve as an important call for change. Respiratory Health Association is proud of the legislative victories we have won on behalf of, and with the assistance of, individuals touched by lung disease who are willing to speak up for change.

To learn how you can become an advocate for lung health, visit our advocacy page. 

COPD Respiratory Rally* recap

Last month, Respiratory Health Association hosted its sixth annual COPD Respiratory Rally*, an educational conference for people living with COPD and their families and caregivers.

More than 300 people attended this year's conference at the Meridian Banquet & Conference Center in Rolling Meadows. Attendees represented more than 37 pulmonary rehabilitation groups from Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana who joined together to connect with others and learn more about living well with COPD.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Kyle Hogarth of the University of Chicago discussed genetic factors that can lead to COPD and outlined current and emerging management strategies and treatment options for people living with COPD. Other educational session topics included breathing and exercise techniques intended to improve the ability to complete daily routines while living with COPD, the role of oxygen in COPD management, and the safe and effective use of COPD medications. The day concluded with a surprise session on the benefits of laughter therapy led by Brenda Celmer, a respiratory therapist at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

To learn more about COPD, visit our COPD page.

H1N1 vaccinations a success!

Through Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago's influenza prevention program, more than 55,000 Chicagoans have received the H1N1 vaccination.

In partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Respiratory Health Association has offered several vaccination sites throughout Chicago. Each clinic has seen between 1,500 and 2,000 clients, and the staff have been praised for the efficiency and "service with a smile" that clients have received. One client wrote:

"I had visions of being there all day, yet was home by 10:00 am. The staff was very courteous and I applaud the job they are doing. It's a huge task and one that your team seemed to be taking in stride." - Client email to CDPH

Respiratory Health Association has also partnered with Cook County Department of Public Health to deliver H1N1 vaccinations at private schools throughout the county to protect students, teachers and family members who are at high risk for infection.

To learn more about H1N1 vaccination sites, click here. 

Announcing lung cancer trials

Respiratory Health Association has joined an initiative to encourage people with lung cancer to take charge of their diagnosis and learn about clinical trials, which are an important part of treatment innovation.

EmergingMed is an online service that matches lung cancer patients with clinical trials based on their individual situations. The goal is to ease the burden patients and their families may feel when trying to identify clinical trials to discuss with their doctor.

Patients may access the service by visiting www.lungchicago.org/clinical-trials-available or by calling the toll-free number (1-800-698-0931) to speak with a compassionate and informed clinical trial specialist who will guide them through the entire process.*

*This information was taken from a press release. For the full press release, click here.

Get Involved: Tell CTA to apply for funding to clean up polluting buses

The CTA has until December 8, 2009 to apply for an US EPA grant to purchase pollution controls for their dirty buses. Call or email CTA President Richard Rodriguez today and urge him to apply!

Only 40% of CTA's bus fleet is equipped with modern pollution controls, a rate which lags far behind those of transit systems in other major cities. The CTA must take advantage of this free money to clean our air and protect our health! Diesel pollution is a serious health issue and is known to cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes, and premature deaths.

Contact CTA President Rodriguez TODAY at 888-YOUR-CTA or feedback@transitchicago.com and urge CTA to apply for US EPA funds to clean up their dirty bus fleet!

Sample email

Dear CTA President Rodriguez,

I'm writing to ask you to apply for the US EPA Clean Diesel grant to purchase pollution controls, called diesel particulate filters, to clean up CTA's bus fleet. It is critical that you take advantage of this important opportunity that could help clean our air and protect our health.

Sincerely,
Your name

Send to feedback@transitchicago.com

Sample phone call

"Hello, my name is _____. I'm calling to ask CTA President Rodriguez to apply for the US EPA Clean Diesel grant to purchase pollution controls, called diesel particulate filters. It is critical that he take advantage of this important opportunity that could help clean our air and protect our health."

Call 1-888-YOUR-CTA