Respiratory therapist is passionate about growing patient confidence

Written by Zoe Walsh, zwalsh@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Metro Region

Many different illnesses can cause shortness of breath and lung problems. Pulmonary Rehabilitation services team members work out a unique plan for every patient. Megan Sharpe, a respiratory therapist at IU Health West, is one such team member.

“We want to educate on medications, on different breathing techniques to help and different triggers that may cause shortness of breath. Then, we want to get [our patients] to exercise. We know that once we can get them comfortable and we can get them doing light to moderate exercise, it helps build muscle, strengthen their heart and then, in turn, will help with their lungs,” Sharpe explains.

Sharpe has been working at IU Health West for 12 years, but each day is different. Most often, she works with other rehabilitation team members to provide care plans for patients.

“The patients get to know our program, and then we'll devise a plan that's going to work best for them. I focus a lot on education during those initial visits. We have a nurse here, exercise physiologists and I'm a respiratory therapist, and together, we devise a plan that helps them cope with their illness and do their activities of daily living,” she explains.

While Pulmonary Rehabilitation services are structured similarly to other programs like physical therapy, Sharpe explains that lung issues are a lifelong journey.

“Unfortunately, our lungs do not repair themselves, so we have to live with that illness, and we must learn how to modify our behaviors and what medications may or may not work. But also, we want to get our patients to be able to exercise,” Sharpe says.

Sharpe loves to see her patients grow in confidence after working through the program.

“If you can’t breathe and someone says, ‘hey, let's exercise,’ you're going to immediately be anxious, but my main focus is breaking the anxious cycle and giving them the confidence that they can do things,” she says.

Sharpe also enjoys working with her team and combining their skills into effective treatment.

“I do love that we all are very different and when we come together, we bring different expertise and different strengths. We are a good team together,” Sharpe says.

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