July 15, 2026 — Novant Health Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Encompass Health, and Lowes Foods are working together to help patients make stronger medical recoveries and accomplish daily tasks, such as grocery shopping. The two organizations partnered to redesign and renovate a grocery store simulator inside Novant Health Rehabilitation Hospital. The simulator allows patients to practice basic scenarios found in real life grocery shopping like pushing a grocery cart and selecting and purchasing food items.
“When a patient is recovering from a traumatic injury or debilitating illness, the question of how they will handle daily tasks again is always a concern,” said Christopher Fuller, hospital CEO. “The grocery store simulator allows our therapists to work on real-life situations in a safe, supported environment.”
Patients will notice the familiarity of the Lowes Foods branded simulator, which brings patients a level of comfort and helps maintain community connection while working through intensive therapy. Novant Health Rehabilitation Hospital serves patients following a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, hip fracture and other complex neurological conditions. In addition to relearning functional abilities like walking and talking, patients must also relearn daily activities. The simulator is part of the hospital’s therapy gym and activities of daily living suite. It features rows of shelving with stocked food items, sections of produce and refrigerated cold items, as well as a check-out station including payment and grocery bagging sections.
"Lowes Foods is based right here in Winston-Salem, and we believe strong communities are built by neighbors supporting one another,” said Tim Lowe, CEO of Lowes Foods. “This partnership with Novant Health Rehabilitation Hospital reflects that commitment by helping patients regain the skills and confidence they need for everyday life. We're grateful to play a small role in helping our neighbors on their road to recovery."
Patients at the hospital participate in a minimum of three hours of therapy a day, five days a week. Services include physical, occupational and speech therapy provided by a multidisciplinary team.
Novant Health Rehabilitation Hospital opened to patients in 2018. The hospital will soon provide lifesaving dialysis treatments onsite with the opening of a four-chair dialysis suite, expected to open in late July.
