Health and Fitness Podcast

Published March 23, 2022

SBH Health Talk Podcast

Albert Jovel and Daniel Bonilla from the SBH Healthplex Fitness Center are featured on the SBH Bronx Health Talk Podcast. Listen, as they discuss strategies to get back into the gym. Listen to Podcast Here

Healthplex Associates (HPA) consults with hospitals, health systems, foundations, and universities across the United States to create and manage clinically integrated fitness facilities. Healthplex Associates has developed unique programs to ensure the smooth transition from the clinical setting to the wellness center for people who need long term lifestyle management support for optimal health. HPA has achieved national leadership through innovation and our dedication to patients and clients.

Our combined staff has now served over 400 clients ranging from large hospitals to smaller, community based rural hospitals. We work exclusively with organizations ranging from healthcare systems, universities and foundations who are committed to a vision of improving the health and wellness of the community in which they serve.

Healthplex Associates has developed a unique, hands-on style to assisting and advising clients with an approach that stresses partnerships. We provide an array of services in the Medical Wellness Industry. These services include feasibility studies, audits of existing medical fitness centers and management. Fundamentally, we believe that true community health must include fitness/wellness services and because of our deep healthcare background (all of our principals have health care management or clinical backgrounds), our Healthplex team fully understands the client’s mission and the complexity of today’s healthcare environment.

The management team of Healthplex Associates is made up of some of the nation’s most experienced experts in the field of medically based fitness. Few management firms can boast of the experience in health care, clinical services, and operations of medically based fitness centers that HPA possesses.

View Our Latest Webinar

Published March 16, 2022

View our latest Webinar Here

View our latest webinar recording “Compassion Fatigue in Todays Medical Fitness Center”. Renee’ Clark-McDonald and Ryan Barr discuss how medical fitness centers can be proactive in preventing Compassion Fatigue. To view our latest webinar “Compassion Fatigue in Todays Medical Fitness Center” click here: Webinar Recording

Member Spotlight

Published March 1, 2022

Logan’s Testimony

Healthplex’s Wellness Center of URMC member of the month, Logan Tyler, shares his testimony. Logan has been able to keep his fatty liver condition in check and reduce his weight since joining the Wellness Center. Logan now has all the support and resources he needs to continue his wellness journey. Thank you, Logan, for sharing your inspiring testimony.

I became a member of the Wellness Center when it first opened in 2006. I was in middle school at the time and came with my grandmother when she worked out. My favorite part of the center during this time was the pool. I was on the swim team and having a pool that I could practice daily was a great asset. I continued coming to the center until I went off to college in 2013. I am now back in Thomaston and have rejoined the Wellness Center because it has all the support and resources, I need to continue my journey of wellness through their training programs. I have utilized personal training with Jessica Ozley, ACE CPT and through training with Jessica, I have kept my fatty liver condition in check and have been able to reduce my weight through use of their state-of-the-art workout and exercise equipment. In addition, the pool too is still a big draw for me. Also, the staff throughout the facility are super friendly and helpful. I now have all the support and resources I need to continue my journey of wellness. I am so grateful to be developing my strength and skills for living a health, active lifestyle at a facility close to home!

Why Should You Get into the Business of Health and Wellness?

Published January 10, 2022

Healthplex Associates is hosting a free webinar, Wednesday January 19th at 12:00 P.M EST to discuss “Why you Should Get into the Business of Health and Wellness”. Lynn Robbins and Don Doyle have over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Join the discussion on how medical fitness can have an enormous impact on your business. Register Here

The science of Public Health has always been a concern for hospitals, although it has had varying degrees of importance to our health care system over the last 100 years. If Covid has had any lasting impacts on the system, it is certainly that we cannot simply focus on inpatient care to achieve our aims. Keeping people well, however, has long been an elusive task.

In a recently released report, Feeling Good: The future of the $1.5 Trillion Wellness Market, issued by McKinsey & Company shared the results of a major survey conducted by the firm that health care providers need to take note of:

“Our latest research shows that consumers care deeply about wellness—and that their interest is growing. In a survey of roughly 7,500 consumers in six countries, 79 percent of the respondents said they believe that wellness is important, and 42 percent consider it a top priority. In fact, consumers in every market we researched reported a substantial increase in the prioritization of wellness2 over the past two to three years.”

The report was able to identify six major areas that consumers were interested in:

· Better Health

· Better Fitness

· Better Nutrition

· Better Appearance

· Better Sleep

· Better Mindfulness

For any health system that had been successfully engaged in a wellness center prior to the pandemic, these are all areas that were (or should have been) ones that they were offering leading services to their community. Despite that, with public health concerns limiting our ability to engage in congregate activities, fitness centers, like restaurants and other social gathering places have taken a major financial hit since early 2020. While remote services, fitness trackers and virtual visits can offer some people a path to achieving wellness, realistically we have found that this is a minority and like the McKinsey study, we see wellness levels slipping. People are social by nature and the support of a qualified trainer and/or the companionship of their friends in a fitness center will typically lead to greater adherence to lifestyle changes.

Therein lies the dilemma; if we know we need to promote and offer wellness to our communities, but the current climate makes it difficult or impossible to operate successfully, why should you start think about starting a new wellness center? The answer is one that every industry must, at some point in its evolution, find for the future. Just as the railroad industry limped along a failed path as it saw itself as providing only train service until they redefined themselves as an integrated transportation system, health care must take the broader view.

This pandemic will end. Maybe it will be a year, maybe two, but it must. There may be a new reality that accompanies that end with more constant vigilance and vaccinations, but some new normal will be there. Building a wellness product line, a new center would require a year, two years or even three if a system were to start now. Opening tomorrow may not be a good option but starting now is the only option. Those who wait for things to ‘calm down’ to start will be years behind the curve and may find themselves merely running trains.

By: Lynn Robbins and Don Doyle

Member Spotlight

Published December 16, 2021

MRMC Member Charlie Sawyers Shares his Testimony

Meet Charlie Sawyers! Charlie is a member at Healthplex’s MRMC Wellness Center in Bay City Texas. Charlie’s favorite part about the Wellness Center is the staff and being able to be with others who care about their health. A wellness center can be an important source of social support and fitness for members.

Mission Fitness Visits Aphasia Center

Published December 7, 2021

Mission Fitness Visits Aphasia Center

One of the biggest differences between a medical fitness center and a gym is that medical fitness centers focus on the overall wellness of the community. HPA’s Mission Fitness located in Odessa, TX is an important component of the West Texas community. They recently visited the Aphasia Center of West Texas. The communication challenges of aphasia usually follow brain injury such as stroke. The fitness center was able to provide attainable exercises for people with aphasia.

Member Testimony

Published November 12, 2021

Lucinda’s Testimony

Healthplex’s Wellness Center of URMC is an important component of healthcare in Thomaston, GA. View Lucinda’s testimony to see how the medical fitness center has made a tremendous impact on Lucinda’s health and wellness.

The Impact of a Medical Fitness Facility

Published November 9, 2021

Medical Fitness Study

The findings of a recent study in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine provides evidence linking attendance at medical fitness centers with a lower incidence of mortality and hospitalization. It is powerful to see the impact that medical fitness is having on our community health. With over 25 years in the medical fitness industry, Healthplex Associates takes pride in improving the wellness in our communities. Read more to learn about the key takeaways from the study linking attendance at medical fitness centers with a lower mortality rate:

Personal Trainer Spotlight

Published October 26, 2021

Kristy is a trainer at Healthplex’s Center for Fitness and Health. Listen to her story of how she became a trainer and how she helps change lives everyday.

Watch Kristy’s Testimony Here:

Kristy’s Testimony

Bridget’s Story

Published October 13, 2021

The basic idea behind the Medical Wellness Center is to shift the focus of health care from “sickness” to “health” and to provide physicians a place/program for patient referral to continue their change in lifestyle. This lifestyle change has an emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion. Bridget’s Story below from Healthplex’s Wellness Center of URMC shows the clinical benefits of having a wellness center as part of the continuum of care.

Life Has Proven to Me How Exercise is the Medicine Which Continually Rewards

My name is Bridget Rogers. I’ve been married 12 years and have two incredible children.

I was in an automobile accident in 2007. My neck broke, causing nerve root avulsion to my right bicep and anterior deltoid. With limited use of my right arm, I’ve had intermittent occupational and physical therapy to resist the unavoidable atrophy.

The last round of PT I underwent with the Physical Therapy Department of URMC was nearly five years ago. Once introduced to the Wellness Center right next door, I was instructed on how to properly utilize a variety of machines to target specific parts of my body needing the work. I experienced Aquatic Therapy which further advanced my recovery of strength and flexibility. The environment of the facility was clean and cared for. I was convinced to join after learning the benefits I received from my visits to the TWC, I could see and more importantly feel the improvements to my ability. Now able to maintain the appropriate exercise regime for myself, therapy is a thing of the past. I not only continue my learned routine from therapies for my right arm but can expand on any part of me I desire conditioning.

Becoming a member of TWC has persuaded me to stay active and fend off the aches and pains resulting from a lack of motivation. Establishing a good, concentrated habit. I’m always greeted with a smile by a kind, knowledgeable staff member, leaving me positively impressed. I can take advantage of the KidZone, having a caring associate supervise my children on days I choose not to miss a workout or take part in any number of the group lessons, which also encourages me socially.

The Wellness Center will always have my thanks for contributing to my physical improvement. I recommend TWC for anyone who seeks to increase their health, developing a steady flow of exercise with a positive concern for their individual wellness.

Sincerely,

Bridget Rogers

Wellness Center Member