Suzan Michelle Collins BSRT, RRT
Phippsburg,
Maine
Over my 25 years in healthcare, I have seen the struggles of COPD patients on many levels from the inability to access needed medication, lack of family support, impact from repeated hospitalizations and the overall feeling of fear and hopelessness.
As State Captain I hope to increase awareness; create a community of volunteers to aid in creating and maintaining a community for those with COPD; have self-sustaining harmonicas for health programs across the state of Maine; assist medical communities with establishing and maintaining a COPD case management plan; assist with advocating for the COPD community on a local and national level; assist medical facilities with developing and maintaining Alpha-1 screening and education; participate in health fairs and offer screening and teaching/instruction about COPD and Alpha-1; create a system that identifies people with COPD at earlier stages in the disease process and assist each person with COPD with having a better quality of life.
My proudest COPD moment was when a wife said that she wanted to pay for two other people to be able to participate in the Harmonicas for Health program because of the tremendous difference she saw in her husband just after two weeks of participating in the program.
Some of my advocacy work has included, creating COPD case management programs at two separate medical centers and their communities; lunch and learn presentations; COPD presentations at local colleges (nursing programs); presentations at local hospital Critical Care Course for RNs; harmonicas for health instructor; member of the National COPD Action Plan working group. I have meet with many of my elected officials including, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King,Representatives Shelley Pingree, and Jeffrey Pierce, and Governor LaPage.
My inspiration to share is, “the starting point of all achievement is desire.” --Napoleon Hill