Impact Snapshot

Providing digitally-enabled home-based pulmonary rehabilitation

Project Location(s): Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD)
Project Lead(s): Dr Sally Wootton (NSLHD) and A/Prof Zoe McKeough (University of Sydney)

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This project piloted the implementation of the previously validated mobile pulmonary rehabilitation (m-PR) program, now embedded within the commercial Perx Health platform. Co-designed by a team of University of Sydney researchers led by A/Professor McKeough and Dr Sally Wootton, the platform (Perx-R) delivers pulmonary rehabilitation and self-management support for people living with chronic respiratory diseases (such as COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease).

The Challenge

Pulmonary rehabilitation involving supervised, personalised programs combining exercise and self-management education has been shown to deliver significant benefits for people with chronic respiratory diseases. However, the effectiveness and reach of traditional centre-based rehabilitation programs have been limited by geographical barriers and service constraints, as well as low attendance and completion rates.

The Approach

The project, conducted from 2024 to early 2026 across three NSLHD sites, identified the barriers and enablers to integrating the Perx-R digital platform into routine rehabilitation programs. Working closely with clinicians and patients, the team co-designed toolkits, training packages and clinical workflows to support broader implementation.

Sydney Health Partners Support

Impact as of 2026

  • A $150,000 Royal North Shore Hospital Campus Grant has supported the project’s expansion to Royal North Shore Hospital and into additional recruitment pathways through inpatient settings.
  • To date, 88 participants have commenced on the Perx-R program (mean age 74 years [range 33-92], 48% male; COPD 35%, asthma 22%, bronchiectasis 11%, interstitial lung disease 14%).
  • The program has led to improved clinician readiness and capability to implement digitally enabled pulmonary rehabilitation.
  • The program plans to continue engagement with consumers and people living with chronic respiratory disease to ensure the platform remains responsive to patient needs and preferences.

Key Publication

Wootton SL. Marita T Dale, Zoe J McKeough, Rashmi Pithavadian, Nicola Black, Pauline Kemp, Meredith King, Allison Tyndall, Sophie Timmins, Sriram Mahadev, Sarah Brown, Andrew Milat, Andrew S L Chan. Clinician Perspectives on Implementing Digital Self-Management and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting. Perth. Int Med Journal. 2026. doi:10.1111/imj.70364 (Section TO135)

Program

Implementation Science Academy

Partners

Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD), University of Sydney
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