If you're living with a chronic condition, chances are you're not living life to the fullest. Illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, heart and lung disease often impact normal daily activities. Disease Management Programs exist to improve your quality of life…our programs are ready to help you take control.

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital offers comprehensive Disease Management services to the region we serve. Coordinated with treatment from your physician, our programs are individually designed to minimize the effects of chronic disease, prevent the condition from progressing and give you tools and support to improve functioning. Our skilled and experienced professionals are dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

You'll need a physician's referral to enter the following Disease Management Programs; however if you have any questions, or need help with a referral, call 828-766-1590:

• Diabetes Self-Management Education Program
  
• Nutrition and Dietician Services
  
• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Programs available to everyone in the region without a referral:

• Blue Ridge Fitness and Rehabilitation
  
• Lighten Up 4 Life

To learn more about rehabilitation services call:

• Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine – 828-765-7901
  
• Blue Ridge Fitness and Rehabilitation in Burnsville – 828-682-6720

For information about membership in our fitness center, or to tour the facility, call 828-678-FITT
Visit our Lighten Up 4 Life web site for more information and to register for the challenge.

Disease Management at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
Depending on your diagnosis, you may face an uncertain outcome or, with proper management, you may have time to reverse the effects of the disease. Whatever your circumstance, you don't have to face it alone. Our team works with you to set goals, make critical lifestyle changes and provide support throughout the process. Our programs incorporate a multidisciplinary approach that includes medical supervision, nutritional education, exercise programs and targeted therapies for diverse needs.

Patients who benefit from Disease Management Services include those diagnosed with:

• Asthma
  
• Diabetes
  
• Coronary artery disease
  
• Congestive heart failure
  
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  
• Obesity
  
• High cholesterol or blood pressure
  
• Liver or kidney disease

Diabetes Self-Management Program
Fully accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators, our Diabetes Self-Management Education Program delivers education and resources to manage type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Our Diabetic Educator teaches how to strengthen your self-care skills so you may keep blood sugar under control and reduce the chance of diabetes-related complications.

Diabetes Management at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital covers information that is essential to your ongoing health. You'll learn about:

• Diabetes, what it is, how it progresses and how to manage it
  
• Controlling blood sugar
  
• Diet and nutrition
  
• Physical activity
  
• Stress management
  
• Reducing risk factors
  
• Foot care

Our Diabetes Management Program offers two options:

• Self-care course: We start with a one-on-one consultation to discuss your unique concerns and then have two group classes that teach what you need to know about diabetes and how to manage it. Follow-up appointments are scheduled at 1, 3 and 6 months. However you may call any time you have a question or problem.
• Individual consultation: Schedule time to meet with our health professionals to discuss your specific needs and areas of self-care, such as diet and nutrition, exercise and foot care.

Nutrition and Dietitian Services
Illness, disease, surgery and injury have a significant effect on the nutritional state of your body. They may interfere with the ability to absorb or use nutrients, change your metabolism, cause loss of vital nutrients or simply affect your appetite. Some medical conditions require special diets; you may have to avoid—or increase your consumption of—certain vitamins and minerals. Eating the right foods may prevent or delay the progression of disease.

When you have a condition that demands special nutritional consideration, our registered dietitians and nutrition experts are here to help you develop an eating plan based on the foods you enjoy.

You may benefit from nutrition counseling if you have any of these conditions:

• Cancer
  
• Diabetes
  
• Digestive problems or reflux disease
  
• Diverticulitis
  
• Food allergies
  
• Risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol
  
• Liver or kidney disease
  
• Obesity

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
Patients living with heart or lung disease face the continuing challenge of regaining strength, maintaining health and following lifestyle changes that maximize their ability to function. These programs take one step at a time, incorporate exercise, nutrition and diagnostics, and find ways to reduce your risk factors.

• Cardiac Rehabilitation: For patients who have had a heart attack or cardiac surgery, who have heart disease, and also those who are at a higher risk for heart disease due to family history, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or obesity. For more information, visit our Heart Services web page, or call 828-766-1750.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Patients diagnosed with lung disease such as bronchitis, asthma or emphysema may benefit from our pulmonary services:
  • Inhalation therapies
    
  • Blood and gas analysis
    
  • Pulmonary function diagnostics
    
  • Exercise and nutrition counseling

Exercise and Weight Management
Exercise is an integral part of our Disease Management Programs because physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight are essential to long-term wellness. Our specialists work with you to create achievable exercise goals and develop a plan to help you follow through.

We'll focus on sustainable activities you enjoy that are appropriate for your level of fitness. You may also benefit from services available at our fitness center, or by joining Lighten Up 4 Life.

Fitness Center
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital operates a fully-equipped fitness center that's open to everyone in our area. Blue Ridge Fitness and Rehabilitation assembles quality equipment and exercise classes, together with health professionals, physical therapy and rehabilitation services, in one convenient location. Our services include:

• Certified fitness trainers
  
• Licensed physical therapists
  
• Equipment: Hammer Strength™, LifeFitness™, free weights
  
• Classes: aerobics and specialty classes
  
• Indoor track
  
• Massage therapy
  
• Personal training packages
  
• Walking club

To learn more about the fitness center call 828-678-FITT (3488). For rehabilitation services at the fitness center in Burnsville, call 828-682-6720.

Lighten Up 4 Life
Want to lose weight but struggling to succeed? For motivation, inspiration and information, join Lighten Up 4 Life. This community-wide weight loss challenge offers resources and guidance to help you lose weight and improve health. Form a team with friends, family or colleagues and compete for prizes, or enroll as an individual and enjoy support from our online community or at our weekly weigh-ins. Register and find these resources on our web site:

• Recipes
  
• Exercise tips and videos
  
• Cooking videos
  
• Links to online calorie counters, nutrition and weight loss information

Appointments and Information
If you have any questions about Disease Management programs, or need help with a referral, please call 828-766-1590.

For more information about the fitness center, call 828-678-FITT (3488).

Locations
Disease Management
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
125 Hospital Dr.
Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Blue Ridge Fitness and Rehabilitation
155 Love Fox Dr.
Burnsville, NC 28714