Marine Corps Veteran finds second wind with Madison VA care team
Marine Corps and Army Reserve Veteran Warren Crowell has struggled with worsening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for years, but the COPD CARE program, developed and implemented at the Madison VA, has allowed him to live life the way he wants.
COPD is a chronic disease causing mucus to build up in the airways and, as a result, breathing becomes more difficult. Symptoms can severely impact a Veteran's quality of life and without proper medication and knowledge, the condition is difficult to manage.
“At first, I didn’t know what to do," Crowell said. "All I knew was that I was sick. My symptoms would get bad and it affected my whole life. I had four or five trips to the emergency room. It got bad.”
That’s when the COPD CARE program reached out to Crowell. The program, initially developed at the Madison VA, integrates a team-based approach by engaging clinical pharmacists, nurse care managers, primary care providers and other critical members of the Veteran’s COPD care team.
“For anyone suffering from respiratory diseases or respiratory trauma, this program is a blessing. It’s educated me on how to use my inhaler systems and my pharmaceutical treatments: the usage, the dosage, the frequency. And I also know that there’s someone I can go to if I need help. For me, it’s an introduction to a whole new knowledge base.”
The proper medication and treatments are critical to managing symptoms of COPD, but proper knowledge of how and when to use the prescribed interventions is just as important in achieving the best result for the Veteran.
“I still play music on the weekends, which is impossible for most people with this disease. I haven’t had emergency room trips in quite some time now because I have all the medications and inhalers I need. I also have the right knowledge and tools to implement the action plan when things act up.
“As far as the staff involved in this program, I can say that their knowledge base and ability to pass it along to patients is incredible. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and that’s a fact.”
For more information or to be referred to the COPD CARE program, reach out to your primary care provider. For more information about the Madison VA Hospital, visit www.madison.va.gov, www.facebook.com/MadisonVAHospital and subscribe to our newsletters.