Health Care
New Bern: Good for your health and wellbeing
If you’re one of the more than 30,000 residents of New Bern, N.C., most likely you love it for the amazing natural beauty, rich history, and award-winning small-town atmosphere. But there’s another reason to appreciate the location. Thanks to its impressive focus on good health and wellbeing, New Bern is truly a place you can call home for your entire life.
This is a city that checks all the boxes when it comes to helping residents live vibrantly at every age, including: easy access to award-winning medical facilities, cutting-edge care and a wealth of excellent practitioners; numerous resources invite every individual, regardless of physical ability, to improve their wellbeing; and plenty of great housing options that meet the needs of New Bernians at every stage of their life.
There are a variety of reasons why “the first capital of North Carolina” can also be considered “the good health and wellbeing capital.”
CarolinaEast Health System: Nationally recognized care in your backyard
For more than 55 years, CarolinaEast has provided award-winning care to Eastern North Carolinians through its 350-bed hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, free-standing surgery center, the SECU Comprehensive Cancer Center and numerous physician practices providing primary and specialty care from offices in four counties. As large as the system is, CEHS President and CEO, Ray Leggett, said patients and families are always made to feel respected.
“CarolinaEast is unique in the special care the system takes to maintain a community feel while offering a level of care one would expect only from larger medical centers in metropolitan areas,” Leggett said. “What began in 1963 as the 100-bed Craven County Hospital is now a multi-facility, top-ranked organization. We feel privileged to have over 400,000 opportunities to touch the lives of our neighbors every year.”
CEHS has been recognized as a nationwide leader in healthcare by numerous national entities. For four consecutive years, CarolinaEast Medical Center has been named as one of the top hospitals in the United States by Newsweek magazine in their annual “World’s Best Hospitals” rankings. In 2022, CarolinaEast was ranked 101 of 6,090 hospitals in the U.S. In addition to a ranking in the top 1.6% of U.S. hospitals, Newsweek also recognized CarolinaEast for performing above the average in infection prevention measures.
CarolinaEast Medical Center has also been named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for patient experience by the Women’s Choice Award. In addition to patient experience, CarolinaEast ranked among America’s Best Hospitals in cancer care, minimally invasive surgery, obstetrics, orthopedics, outpatient experience and patient safety.
“Such awards, accreditations, rankings and ratings undoubtedly help build the trust we are privileged to have from our community,” Leggett noted, “as well as aid in recruiting efforts for top physicians, nurses, executives and other healthcare professionals.”
Locals will also appreciate that CEHS is deeply involved in uplifting New Bern in other ways as well. Each year, the System provides funding for nursing instructors at Craven College to allow more students the chance to pursue nursing degrees.
“The partnership helps us to educate more local students who traditionally have preferred to stay local after graduation,” Leggett said. “We are also a clinical site for nursing students from area community colleges as well as several universities. Additionally, our scholarship opportunities for local high school graduates help more students attend healthcare programs in the local community college and universities. It’s just a few more of the many ways we ensure the wellbeing of our community.”
For more information about CEHS, visit their website.
Sound Fitness: Gain the strength to live your best life
Since 2014, Sound Fitness has been the go-to studio for locals of every fitness level, ability and age who want to build healthier, stronger selves. Owner Brooke White said the emphasis on “every” is what sets her studio apart.
“Opportunities to pursue good health and maintain fitness should not be limited to individuals who are already enjoying an active lifestyle,” White said. “We want individuals who, for whatever reason, whether it is orthopedic injuries, neuromuscular disorders or being deconditioned, to have access to a facility that works with them to continue to pursue a healthy lifestyle.”
As part of that commitment, Sound Fitness developed a referral relationship with Craven Physical Therapy and Spine to provide training and guidance for those who are returning to activity after physical therapy, and also built a facility that is fully ADA compliant to ensure accessibility.
Adding to this commitment, White notes that much of the equipment at Sound Fitness focuses on functional movement.
“In fact, many implements are familiar to those who come from a therapy environment to ensure a smooth transition from rehab to training and conditioning,” she said. “Pursuing fitness can be a daunting and intimidating experience. Our goal is to help everyone to feel comfortable in a gym setting regardless of their current fitness level.”
“New members receive two hours of free personal training to learn how to use the equipment so they can feel empowered to workout with confidence,” White added.
In an area with upwards of 30 fitness centers and gyms to choose from in New Bern, White believes Sound Fitness stands out. not only as one of the most welcoming, but also when it comes to serving a wide variety of people with differing health and wellbeing goals.
“I’m not just the owner, I’m also a personal trainer here,” White said. “And I know I can speak for my colleagues when I say we’re here to help every member, regardless of level, ability, or age, live their best life in the best health they can.”
“We are driven to help people achieve a task they had thought was unattainable, whether it is having the strength to be able to live independently as a senior, help someone pursue their hobbies like golf or dance or to provide someone with the confidence to feel good in their own skin.”
For more information about Sound Fitness, visit their website.
The Viridian: A senior community you can thrive in
Those searching for a beautiful spot to retire where you can remain active and live your best life won’t have to look farther than your own backyard. Once The Viridian opens its doors this summer, it will definitely elevate the senior living landscape in New Bern. Senior Director of New Development, Debra Richardson, said there are numerous reasons why this senior living community located within the beautiful coastal community, Carolina Colours, stands out.
“The Viridian’s location within Carolina Colours is synonymous with luxurious resort-style living,” Richardson noted. “We’re an optimal solution for those who have fallen in love with the area and want to continue their community connection with local neighbors, or for people who want to travel and not worry about home maintenance.”
Aging in place is trending among older adults, and Richardson said The Viridian strives to meet that desire. “With its independent senior living apartments and assisted living community, The Viridian is purpose built for residents to age in place right here in New Bern as their needs change and they require additional services.”
Independent living and assisted living residents can look forward to “having their expectations exceeded.”
According to Richardson, in addition to beautifully appointed apartments, the community is pet-friendly, and features resort style amenities, classes, entertainment and events, all geared to enhancing wellbeing, vitality, lifelong learning and relaxation. In other words, all the things that keep you vital, healthy, and loving life.
“Everything here is designed for residents to age in place beautifully,” Richardson said. “As our tagline states, ‘Live Exceptionally. Live Your Best Life. Live at The Viridian.’ After all, there’s no age limit on wanting to strive for all the wellbeing you can have.”
For more information about The Viridian, visit their website.