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.