THE COPD FOUNDATION AND KIVO HEALTH PARTNER TO MAKE PULMONARY REHAB MORE ACCESSIBLE
(MIAMI, NEW YORK, AND SAN FRANCISCO, August 24, 2023) – The COPD Foundation and Kivo Health, which provides groundbreaking telehealth pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have formed a collaborative alliance to improve access to virtual pulmonary rehabilitation.
While pulmonary rehabilitation is a “gold standard” treatment for lung disease and has been shown to reduce symptoms, mortality, and healthcare costs for those suffering from COPD, only 3% of affected people complete it after hospitalization due to transportation barriers, cost of travel, distance from a rehab center, or severe symptoms. Virtual pulmonary rehab can remove many barriers to access. Completing pulmonary rehab from the comfort of home can also help alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with starting a new treatment program.
Kivo Health's eight week, Medicare-supported, virtual pulmonary rehab program provides patients with an in-home rehab kit including tablet and wristwatch, real-time oxygen and heart rate monitoring, guided breathing exercises, and lung health education with a credentialed respiratory therapist. Patients need not have access to the internet or be technologically savvy - everything is included in the kit and easy to understand and thus has resulted in nearly 90% adherence.
"For the more than 16 million people in the U.S. with COPD, pulmonary rehab can improve lung function, overall fitness, and quality of life better than any other therapy," said COPD Foundation CEO Jean Wright, M.D. "Pulmonary rehab offers a comprehensive approach that empowers individuals to breathe more easily, stay active, and regain control over their lives despite the challenges of COPD. Virtual pulmonary rehab will enable more people to have access to the health care they need, reducing symptoms and improving quality of life."
As the global leader in the fight to cure chronic lung disease, the COPD Foundation champions the need for more accessible and affordable pulmonary rehab options. By collaborating with Kivo Health, the Foundation continues to break access barriers and address health disparities in diverse populations.
"Kivo Health provides high-quality, safe, engaging, and accessible virtual pulmonary rehabilitation for people from any background and living in any geographical location." said Victor Sadauskas, MD, cofounder and CEO of Kivo Health. "We look forward to working alongside the COPD Foundation to improve the health and lives of millions of people with chronic lung disease."
For more information about the COPD Foundation, visit copdfoundation.org. For more information about Kivo Health, visit kivohealth.com.
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About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to improve the lives of people with COPD, bronchiectasis, and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease through initiatives that expand services and speed innovations to make treatment more effective and affordable. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure. For more information, visit copdfoundation.org, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Kivo Health
Kivo Health is a physician-led company that provides telehealth pulmonary rehabilitation for people with COPD. Kivo's proprietary technology and unique care delivery model engages Medicare members with COPD at home to alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life, while reducing healthcare costs by preventing hospitalizations. For more information, visit: kivohealth.com.
Contact
The COPD Foundation
Jessica Burke
jburke@copdfoundation.org