Overview
Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC) offers free community-based lung health services from an interprofessional team at KCHC sites in Kingston and Napanee. In collaboration with the FLA OHT Integrated Care Pathways, KCHC supports the aim to create more access to lung health resources to enhance quality of life of people across the FLA region. Read the KCHC Program Spotlight.
People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may register for any or all the services. Depending on the service, people may self-refer or be referred by their primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner).
KCHC Services
(People can access more than one service at a time)
- STOP is the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients program. STOP provides individual smoking cessation support from a nurse or respiratory therapist and includes free nicotine replacement therapy. The STOP program is available in-person at several KCHC sites:
- Kingston – learn more
- Napanee – learn more
- COPD Group Education: to support people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The course will focus on self-management including medication and inhaler use, breathing techniques, symptom monitoring, activity pacing, preventing flare-ups, and individualized COPD Action Plans. Come build knowledge, skills, and confidence. Partners are welcome.
- Kingston: a 6-week course with 1.5‑hour weekly sessions led by the program nurse navigator, with interprofessional guest speakers (social worker, dietitian, and pharmacist)
- Kingston Seniors Centre: a 6-week program for Senior Centre Members, led by the program nurse navigator. It starts at 56 Francis St site September 21, 2026, on Mondays from 9:30-11 am. Learn more and register.
- Napanee: Coping with COPD is a four-week workshop led by the registered respiratory therapist, with interprofessional guest speakers (social worker, dietitian, kinesiologist). Learn more.
- Diagnostic assessment: involves individual assessments, such as spirometry for COPD, asthma screening, and use of bronchodilator.
- Assessments are done in-person at sites in Kingston and Napanee by a KCHC nurse or respiratory therapist, or by the Best Care Program team of health professionals.
- Assessments are done in-person at sites in Kingston and Napanee by a KCHC nurse or respiratory therapist, or by the Best Care Program team of health professionals.
- Modified pulmonary rehabilitation program: supervised in-person group exercise and education for clients with chronic respiratory disease
- Kingston: 14-week exercise and educational group program, led by a registered kinesiologist and nurse navigator, plus interprofessional guests. Participants require a referral and medical clearance before starting the program. Also offering extra drop-in sessions 1-2 times/week.
- Napanee: 14-week exercise and educational program to help to improve COPD management, led by a kinesiologist and respiratory therapist, with interprofessional guest speakers. Graduates can join a maintenance program with a weekly drop-in exercise class. Learn more.
Additional Resources
- Keep Breathing is a virtual respiratory exercise program led by Lisa Dow, a registered physiotherapist in Belleville. The programs offered at low cost include a variety of great services of people with chronic lung disease, frequent classes and interprofessional guest speakers. Learn more.
- Living Well with COPD is an online resource developed through a public-private partnership, including McGill University Health Centre, the Montreal Chest Institute and many others. The website offers bilingual resources for people living with COPD and for health professionals. Learn more.
QUICK GUIDE to KCHC services at their sites
Referrals to services
- We accept referrals from nurse practitioners or physicians – download, complete and fax this form to our office (referral form also in sidebar at right)
Who can access these services?
People who have:
- Have shortness of breath and need assessment, diagnosis and support services
- Could benefit from community-based respiratory rehabilitation
- Have completed a hospital-based program but require ongoing support (e.g., maintenance program, or help with self-management)
- Experience barriers to care (e.g., transportation difficulties, health literacy level, requiring interpretation/translation services)
- Do not have a family doctor or access to allied health services
Regional Lung Health Program Team
- Registered Nurses
- Registered Respiratory Therapists
- Registered Kinesiologists
- Nurse Navigator, Nicola Thomas, RN, BN, MSc, CCNE
Improving the care of people with chronic diseases
The Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT) partners are collaborating to create a more efficient, integrated and equitable health care system.
The Kingston Health Sciences Centre is a partner leading the development of Integrated Care Pathways, to help manage chronic diseases in the community. This initiative has started with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF).
Learn more on the FLA OHT website and the KHSC website.