Wellness Center Building

Wellness Center

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Emory Decatur Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, offered within the hospital’s Wellness Center, is an exercise and education program designed to improve the quality of life of those who have a chronic lung condition or breathing problems. Components of the program include assessment, breathing retraining, exercise, psychosocial intervention and follow up. Program goals include:

  • Controlling symptoms and complications of respiratory impairment
  • Improving overall quality of life
  • Avoiding long-term convalescence
  • Promoting independence and ability to perform daily activities
  • Reducing the need for hospitalization and emergency room visits

Pulmonary rehab participants are referred to the program by their physicians. Speak with your physician about making a referral. An initial assessment will be scheduled for each patient after receiving the referral.  The length of a patient’s rehabilitation participation is determined by the patient’s individual needs and insurance coverage.  Patients remain under the supervision of their physicians throughout the pulmonary rehabilitation program to ensure the highest quality of service. Our pulmonary rehab staff will be happy to verify your insurance coverage prior to beginning.

Which Patients May Benefit from Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

The following diagnosis are appropriate for pulmonary rehabilitation:

  • COPD: Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
  • Asthma
  • Interstitial Lung Disease
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Post Lung Reduction Surgery
  • Post Lung Transplant

What to Expect During Pulmonary Rehab

Emory Decatur Hospital provides a healthy, positive atmosphere focusing on improving quality of life and increasing exercise tolerance. The staff will develop an exercise program specific to each individual and will monitor each patient throughout their workout sessions. During their rehab, each patient will learn to use a wide variety of exercise equipment including a treadmill, stationary bike, arm ergometer and recumbent stepper (Nu-Step®).  You will also learn how to measure your exercise exertion using the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale and measure shortness of breath using a dyspnea scale.

Collaboration with the Wellness Center

Emory Decatur Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation participants have the opportunity to utilize the Wellness Center while participating in Phase 2 and may join upon completion from pulmonary rehabilitation.  The Wellness Center is Georgia’s first certified medical fitness center and is open to the community. 

For more information, contact us at 404-501-7155.

Direction to the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center

Cardiac Rehabilitation/Pulmonary Rehabilitation is located at Emory Decatur Hospital on the ground floor of the 2665 Professional Building in The Wellness Center. GPS or Google: 2665 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033. (Please note that the mailing address is 2701 North Decatur Road but the physical address is 2665.)

The 2665 Professional Building is the building closest to North Decatur Road. The 2675 Professional Building is next to it, higher on the hill and closer to the main hospital. The entire campus is connected via underground hallways.

Parking Directions

The Wellness Center – in which we are located - will validate your parking ticket from two surface lots near the building or the parking deck. During inclement weather, use the deck and stay dry in our underground tunnel system (see Walking Directions below). Please note: The Wellness Center cannot validate valet parking tickets or parking tickets from the Dr. Bobbie Bailey Women’s and Surgery Center.

Lower Surface Lot:
From North Decatur Road, enter the lower surface lot from the main hospital driveway. To exit the lower lot, you must drive around the building (inside the lot) and exit from the upper surface lot on Rufus Evans Drive. There are 10 special reserved parking spaces for Cardiac Rehabilitation/Pulmonary Rehabilitation patients in the lower surface lot only. If these are taken, park in any available space in the lots or deck.

Upper Surface Lot:
From North Decatur Road, turn into the hospital driveway and continue past the lower lot entrance, up the hill toward the main hospital; turn right at the stop sign onto Rufus Evans Drive. Pass the valet parking entrance to the 2675 Professional Building on your right. Turn right into the upper surface lot. You will exit the upper lot at this same location.

From Sycamore Street, enter the campus on Rufus Evans Drive and turn left into the upper surface lot. You will exit the upper lot at this same location.

Note: The line to exit the surface lots can be long at various times during the day. If you find that your regular visits occur at one of these times, please use the parking deck.