Pointing to Prevention

Subscribe | Advertise | About Us | Contact Us | Home

January/February 2003

By Jinger Berry, MEd

Prevention has recently taken the spotlight in health care. Weight-related illness and other risk factors are on the rise. Being overweight or obese is an underlying factor for the top causes of death, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Obesity is a major cause of overall loss of energy experienced by many people, especially as they age.

In fact, according to the 1996 US Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, most of the top 10 causes of death due to disease are attributable to health risk associated with excess body fat. The report also states that obesity is a leading cause of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer. Although physicians understand how exercise can help many patients overcome such risk factors, they may not always know of facilities that can provide programs they approve of to assist their patients.

One such example of a physician-approved facility is the Health and Fitness Institute (HFI), the wellness center of the Stamford Health System, Stamford, Conn. An adult-only facility, where members must have a risk factor and physician’s referral to join, HFI demonstrates well how fitness and medicine can be integrated to promote healthy habits in busy lifestyles. The center combines physical fitness programs, health seminars, rehabilitative medicine, and holistic care, along with comprehensive outpatient services.

MOTIVATING FACTORS

While appearance is a driving motivator for younger people, health concerns, especially cardiovascular health, become more important as people age. The Medical Fitness Association supports this claim, reporting in its 2002 membership survey that older adults ranked “improving health” as the most important reason for joining a hospital wellness center.

The membership at HFI is unlike that at many fitness facilities. The average age of membership is 65, with women making up 62% of members. Facility usage also differs, with 70% of the members coming in after 8:00 am and finishing before 5:00 pm. While other facilities in the area are working hard to attract members who would be able to use the facility during these hours, HFI is looking for the after-work crowd that is interested in improving their health and making lifestyle changes.

Another unique aspect of HFI is the attention it pays to its members. Employees and members alike take such an interest in members’ health that, should a member miss a day or two, they may receive a phone call or, with extended absences, a postcard and a call to their physician.

Older people tend to shy away from commercial fitness centers. In the past, hospital-based fitness centers were limited to cardiac rehabilitation participants looking for a place to continue their new lifestyle. Most centers were housed in a small room where graduates of the monitored program were allowed to join for a fee to continue their cardiovascular exercise program. Some included limited weight training and nutritional education for these individuals. Many former cardiac patients continue to exercise because they are afraid of having another cardiac episode.

Prevention instead of fear is the primary reason today that hospitals are creating high-tech and high-touch facilities to reach out and prevent disease from limiting the quality of life of the people in their communities. At HFI, there is a concentration not just on cardiovascular exercise, but also on how to live healthier lives, which incorporates nutritional counseling, stress reduction classes, water classes, and a fun environment to make adhering to a healthy lifestyle easier and more enjoyable.

The perception of many individuals is that chronic disease along with aging are inevitable, but evidence indicates that many risk factors are potentially avoidable and can be modified through lifestyle changes, including exercise. To accomplish this goal, HFI offers fitness memberships to those with health risk factors and clearance from their physicians to participate in an exercise program. These health risk factors include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, age, inactivity, as well as a family history of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Community members who do not have risk factors are referred to other commercial clubs in the area.

JOINING UP

External factors affecting the health care environment include changes in health conditions, consumer attitudes, and behaviors; an aging population; and an evolving health care marketplace. A large factor in the change in attitudes is due to the publication of the Surgeon General’s report, stressing the benefits of exercise and the dangers of remaining inactive, as well as the changes in reimbursement of medical procedures and care.

At HFI, there is a total approach to wellness. When an individual joins, they receive an assessment from one of its fitness specialists, all of whom hold degrees in health-related fields. This specialist will concentrate on the behavior changes needed to accomplish lifestyle changes. The new member receives a program specifically designed for their condition(s). Their exercise program will be monitored through an interactive data system, which collects information, gives immediate feedback to the member, and allows for exercise documentation to be sent to the member’s physicians. By each fitness specialist becoming a case manager, better communication is created between all of the patient’s physicians, thus creating better health care for the patient.

Pricing is similar to that of a typical health club, with enrollment fees and monthly dues, and at this time only about 2% of members are reimbursed through insurance. However, both the monitored cardiac rehabilitation program and outpatient physical therapy can be fully covered.

GROUP PARTICIPATION

Members are also introduced to an array of group classes, which include exercise and nonexercise classes, both on land and in water. These classes have been developed for many different abilities. The classes recommended to a member depend on the goals and current treatment plan of their physician. Those members with low fitness levels may have only group classes in their program or be required to work with a personal trainer. Education seminars on healthy cooking, diabetes weight management, pain management, and other risk factors are offered. Some specialty classes are open to the community as well.

For members of the community requiring rehabilitation, whether to treat an injury or an illness, or help recovering from surgery, or nutritional counseling, services are available through referral from a physician. The therapists and medical professionals of Stamford Health System provide a range of rehabilitation services from physical therapy, to Phase II cardiac rehabilitation, to nutritional services.

Other services offered to the community are educational programs, nutritional programs, tai chi, yoga, massage, meditation, healthy cooking and weight control, and pre- and post-natal fitness. Some of these classes are free to members and charged to nonmembers, while other 8- to 10-week classes require fees from both.

The HFI facility includes a five-lane lap pool, warm water therapy pool, whirlpool, indoor track, two group exercise studios, massage rooms, two-level fitness floor, sauna, and steam room. The Tully Health Center houses a family medicine clinic, community education center, outpatient behavioral health center, outpatient surgery center, diagnostic imaging center, women’s breast center, physical medicine and rehabilitation, immediate care center, endoscopy center, wound care center, corporate health services, Internet resource center, and meditation area.

It is safe to assume that exercise and physical activity among the American adult population will not change in a big way any time soon. However, through developing a facility where patients and physicians can work together on their treatment, wellness facilities can truly make a difference in prevention of disease and overall lifestyle changes.

Jinger Berry, MEd, is Lifestyle Counseling Manager at the Health & Fitness Institute, Stamford Health System, Stamford, Conn.

LOOKING FOR EXPERT ADVICE?

Experts here are available to answer all your questions!

Please contact us for more information about this feature, or to become an expert.

MEDIA CENTER

Interactive Media

Resources

	Classifieds
	Calendar
	Consumer Resources
	Media Kit
	Advertiser Index EAB Reprints Submit an Article

Featured Jobs

Hospitalist Chestertown Chester River Hospital
Chestertown, Maryland

AUDIOLOGIST NEEDED
Boise, Idaho

Clinical Education Coordinator School of Respiratory Therapy
Marquette, Michigan

More Jobs...

Find a Job

www.thejobcure.com

ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES

Allied Healthcare		Medical Education
24X7mag Chiropractic Products Magazine Clinical Lab Products (CLP) Orthodontic Products The Hearing Industry Resource HME Today Rehab Management	Physical Therapy Products Plastic Surgery Products Imaging Economics Medical Imaging RT Magazine Sleep Review	SynerMed Communications IMED Communications
		Practice Growth
		Practice Builders

Become a featured employer

Featured Employer

Pamida

Be a Part of Our Growth At Pamida!

Pamida currently operates over 144 pharmacies, serving rural communities in a 15 state region. Our 5 year plan includes aggressive growth in all 15 states. We want you to be a part of our success!

View All Pamida Jobs

January/February 2003