ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital is expanding its lung health education and support services with new Coastal Communities Better Breathers programs, designed to help community members of all ages improve breathing, find support and manage lung conditions.

Beginning in October, three free Coastal Communities Better Breathers class series will be offered, each tailored to a specific age group and lung health need:

Coastal Communities Better Breathers Group (adults)

The third Wednesday of each month beginning Oct. 15, 10 to 11 a.m., Beebe Health Center First Floor Conference Room, 15 Anchor Drive, Rockport

This support group, part of the American Lung Association’s Better Breathers Club, has connected people living with lung disease to education, support and each other in communities nationwide for more than 50 years. Participants will gain strategies to cope with conditions such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and asthma while receiving support from others facing similar challenges. Class topics include oxygen equipment, medications, CPAP machines and more, with guest speakers providing specialized knowledge and education. Caregivers and family members are welcome.

Coastal Communities Youth Kicking Asthma Breathe Well Group (ages 8 to 11)

The second Wednesday of each month beginning Oct. 8, 6 to 7 p.m,. Pen Bay Hospital Physicians Building, Conference Rooms C & D, 4 Glen Cove Drive, Rockport

This interactive program empowers children to manage their asthma by teaching them to recognize warning signs, avoid triggers and communicate confidently about their health. The class follows the Open Airways for Schools® (OAS) curriculum, a nationally recognized program that has reached hundreds of thousands of children over three decades. Participants learn tools to prevent symptoms, recognize them early, take appropriate management steps and work with parents, teachers and healthcare providers.

Coastal Communities Teens Kicking Asthma Breathe Well Group (ages 11 to16, grades 6 through 10)

The third Wednesday of each month beginning Oct. 15, 6 to 7 p.m., Pen Bay Hospital Physicians Building, Conference Rooms C & D, 4 Glen Cove Drive, Rockport

This program empowers teens through interactive learning techniques tailored to their age group. The curriculum emphasizes asthma self-management, including recognizing early warning signs, identifying and avoiding triggers and using medications properly. Teens practice these skills in a supportive, small group setting.

All classes are offered in person and via Zoom. Zoom links will be provided after registration.

For more information or to register, contact Suzan Michelle Collins at 301- 5892 or Suzan.Collins@mainehealth.org.

The programs are facilitated by Suzan Michelle Collins, BSRT, RRT, a second-year graduate student in Respiratory Care at Boise State University. Collins is a certified asthma educator with specialty certifications in COPD education, pulmonary disease education, tobacco treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation. She has received national recognition for her work, including awards from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Association for Respiratory Care Foundation and the COPD Foundation. Locally, she received the 2024 Operations Transformation Advocate Award from MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and has presented her research at national conferences. Collins is also an active volunteer, advocating patients and the cardiopulmonary profession.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.