Just as we are committed to providing you with advanced medical care in a friendly, comfortable setting, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (BRRH) is also dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle once you leave the hospital. To help you make the most of the care you receive here, we offer the following health and wellness programs. All programs offered are upon physician referral only.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation at BRRH is a medically supervised program to help patients recover from heart-related complications, such as heart attack or surgery for heart disease. Cardiac rehab is customized for each patient’s unique needs. Most programs involve supervised exercise; nutrition counseling; education to help modify risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking; and emotional support. Exercise regimens are monitored closely by a registered nurse (RN) and are designed to start slowly to gradually build cardiac strength.

Cardiac rehab is an important step to recovering from a heart-related illness. It can improve your quality of life and reduce your risk of future heart problems. You may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation if you have, or have ever had, any of the following:

• Angina
• Angioplasty and stents
• Cardiovascular disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Heart attack
• Heart transplant
• Heart valve replacement
• Pacemaker
• Peripheral artery disease
• Stable chronic heart failure

Cardiac rehabilitation is not suitable for everyone. You should ask your physician whether cardiac rehab is a healthy option for you. 

Nutrition and Dietitian Services

Knowing what to eat to be healthy is a challenge we all face; however, it gets more complicated, when you have special nutritional needs as a result of an illness or condition. When your health is concerned, don’t try to figure out the dietary dos and don’t's on your own. At BRRH, our registered dietitians and nutrition experts can help you develop a manageable eating plan customized to your unique needs and based on foods that you enjoy.

You may benefit from nutrition counseling if you have any of the following illnesses or conditions:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Digestive problems
• Diverticulitis
• Food allergies
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Liver or kidney disease
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• Reflux disease

Physical Therapy

The physical therapy services at BRRH are designed to help improve your ability to move and function, with the ultimate goal of benefiting your overall health and fitness.  Our licensed physical therapists will evaluate and test your specific needs.  The physical therapist will then develop an individualized program for you, and set realistic goals you can achieve. Rehabilitation can consist of therapeutic exercise, hydrotherapy, joint and soft tissue mobilization, massage, electrotherapy, ultrasound, hot packs, or ice. Your physical therapist will work closely with you to address any issues associated with posture strength, flexibility, balance and coordination.  Physical Therapy can help promote safe mobility, reduce pain, restore function and reduce the risk of disability. 

We offer help for a variety of conditions, including:

• Balance problems
• Fractures, dislocations and other joint or soft tissue injuries
• Neurological conditions (stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease)
• Orthopedic conditions (back pain, neck pain, osteoporosis)
• Sports injuries
• Workplace injuries