The Grace Anne Dorney Pulmonary & Cardiac Rehabilitation Center
The Grace Anne Dorney Pulmonary & Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at MedStar Health is named after Grace Anne Dorney Koppel, a Maryland attorney; business manager for husband and famous newsman Ted Koppel; and national patient advocate for the COPD Learn More Breathe Better® Campaign from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
In 2001, Grace Anne was diagnosed with a very severe case of COPD and given a few years to live. COPD is a group of lung diseases including emphysema, refractory asthma, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis. Instead of taking the prognosis as a death sentence, Grace Anne began pulmonary rehabilitation and through hard work and dedication increased her lung capacity from 26 percent to almost 60 percent today. Since 2007, she has shared her experiences on a national platform and is a testament to not letting her health slow her down.
Former ABC News "Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel had the idea for the creation of the center and donated funds as a gift to help open it in honor of his wife, Grace Anne. The Koppel family hopes to open a similar center in rural areas each year until they have opened a center in each state. This legacy will encourage individuals who are suffering to keep fighting and succeed in managing the illness.
Our pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation program is proudly certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). AACVPR provides the only peer-reviewed accreditation process to review individual facilities for adherence to standards and guidelines from AACVPR and other leading professional societies.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Phase 2 pulmonary rehabilitation is a monitored exercise program for people with lung conditions that helps them move more, feel better, and breathe easier in their everyday activities. During the program, you will be educated about your pulmonary condition, how to control your symptoms, and how to properly use medications and oxygen. Assistance with smoking cessation, stress reduction and/or management techniques, and nutrition guidance are also available.
You may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation if you have one or more of the following:
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Bronchiectasis
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Sarcoidosis
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Pulmonary Hypertension
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Pulmonary Fibrosis
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Interstitial lung disease
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Lung cancer and/or lung cancer surgery
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Lung volume reduction surgery
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Pre- and post- lung transplantation
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Click here for the pulmonary rehabilitation provider referral form.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation is a monitored exercise program that supports you to achieve your optimal physical, psychological, and social functioning through exercise training and lifestyle change. Our cardiac rehabilitation program includes:
- Prescribed exercise to improve cardiovascular fitness
- Education about heart disease
- Information about how to reduce your risk for cardiac events
- Smoking cessation
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Weight loss/control
- Increasing physical activity
- Encouraging healthy eating habits
- Improved psychological well being
You may benefit from Cardiac Rehabilitation if you have a history of:
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Current stable angina pectoris
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Heart valve repair or replacement
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Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)/ or coronary stenting
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Heart or heart-lung transplant
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Heart failure and those with ventricular assist devices
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Coronary artery disease equivalents such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease< To make a referral to pulmonary or cardiac rehab, please complete the appropriate referral and fax to 240-434-7716.
If you would like more information about our Pulmonary or Cardiac rehabilitation programs or would like to inquire about starting in the program, please call 240-434-7143 or email Graceannedorneyrehab@medstar.net.
A physician referral is required to participate in pulmonary or cardiac rehab, so we encourage you to speak with your primary or specialty care provider if this program interests you.
Click here for the cardiac rehabilitation provider referral form.
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation treatments
The Grace Anne Dorney Center offers supervised rehabilitation programs for patients who are under the medical management of a physician for cardiac or pulmonary conditions.
- Pulmonary patients have moderate to severe COPD or another significant pulmonary disease
- Cardiac patients have typically just had a heart attack or cardiac surgery within the past six months to a year, or have other qualifying diagnoses
The Grace Anne Dorney Center program includes individualized assessments and care plans. Participants attend two rehab sessions per week for about 18 weeks.
Call 240-434-7143 for more information. A doctor’s referral is required.
Walking program for peripheral artery disease
If you have Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a structured walking program can make a big difference, enabling you to double or triple the distance you can walk before developing symptoms or before having to stop.
Regular walking to the point of developing moderate pain, then resting briefly and repeating the process, will improve your ability to walk more than any other known exercise and most other medical and surgical treatments.
Call 240-434-7143 for more information.
Additional information
Conditions treated:
Related information:
Our providers
Expert rehabilitation care
Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our rehabilitation specialists.
Related services
Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.