Cardiac, pulmonary rehab and sleep center re-open at Morris Hospital

MORRIS — The last group of patient services that had been suspended at Morris Hospital due to the COVID-19 pandemic have now resumed. This includes Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation, and the Sleep Center.

Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation are both held at the Morris Hospital Diagnostic & Rehabilitative Center on Gore Road in Morris. All patients coming for these services are required to wear masks and are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms, including temperature checks. A limit of four Cardiac or Pulmonary Rehab patients are permitted per hour to allow for six feet of distancing in the rehab gym.

Due to limitations in the number of participants, Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation, an ongoing exercise maintenance program, is not being offered at this time as individuals should be able to safely exercise on their own. Phase II, on the other hand, is a medically supervised 6-12 week program for individuals who have recently had a heart attack, coronary angioplasty/stent, or coronary artery bypass or valve repair/replacement surgery.

Similar safety measures are in place for patients coming to the Diagnostic & Rehabilitative Center for outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

“We’re very pleased to have our Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs back on line for our community,” Morris Hospital President & CEO Mark Steadham said. “Programs like these are proven to lower the risk of death and health complications for individuals who have had a cardiac event or procedure, as well as those who have chronic pulmonary disease.”

At the Morris Hospital Sleep Center on Lakewood Drive in Morris, patients are tested for COVID-19 prior to having their sleep study, just as surgical patients are tested prior to undergoing a surgical procedure at the hospital.

“At the onset of the pandemic, the Sleep Center was one of the elective services that we felt could be temporarily postponed,” Steadham said. “With good safety measures in place, we feel confident bringing patients back for sleep studies so they can get a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendation.”

Due to visitor restrictions that are still in place at the hospital, Morris Hospital has not resumed public meetings, education classes, and support groups. The hospital cafeteria also remains closed to the public. The patient transportation service is scheduled to resume in a limited capacity starting July 6.