Published: October 14, 2006 01:47 am      

‘Medical fitness center does tend to support the hospital’s mission’

FAIRMONT — An exerciser shows up a fitness center, swipes a card in a treadmill or a stair climber, and then works out.

But an electronic system makes this a different type of machine by collecting data that can be sent to the participant’s primary care physician.

This is the type of equipment that may be available at the Fairmont General HealthPlex, which officials hope will be open by August 2008.

Albert Pilkington III, CEO of Fairmont General Hospital, which is building the $8.76 million facility at the South Fairmont exit of Interstate 79, said he expects a bit of a different demographic than those who usually go to health clubs to be interested in the fitness center.

“We’re not after the 25-year-old crowd that wants to look good in a bathing suit,” he said. “We want the after 30 and 40 year olds who, typically because of a busy work life and families, haven’t had the occasion to work out and manage their health like they would want. That’s the group we’ll go after.”

Stephen A. Robbins, president of Healthplex Associates in Media, Pa. and a consultant on the Fairmont project, has a different phrase for it.

“We’re not exactly the spandex club,” he said. “I like to call it the cotton club.”

He pointed out that the trend is for the average age of a Healthplex attendee to be 49 with a large dose of senior citizens “well over 65” as well as people who attend out of medical necessity.

Robbins has worked with 300 hospitals on the concept, he said.

“While it’s open to the general public and people can join, a medical fitness center does tend to support the hospital’s mission,” he said.

For instance, he said, someone who is diagnosed with diabetes will be treated with insulin, but also probably will need an exercise regimen.

“A medical fitness center can provide an environment and the expertise to help people like that — people who are older adults with arthritis or cardiac rehab patients or people with physical disabilities.”

Pilkington does not know how much membership fees will be.

“It will be competitive within the market,” he said. “It will be a price that’s affordable. We can’t afford to make it $100 a month and expect anybody to come. If we don’t make it attractive, we’re not achieving our goals of wellness.”

In addition to a membership fee, other services would be provided at an extra charge, such as a trainer, Pilkington said.

The hours will be along the lines of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, although that also could change.

“It will be based on demand,” Pilkington said. “We don’t want to be open at 6 if no one show up.”

Studies in general have shown a direct link to exercise and wellness, Robbins noted, including a lower tendency by people who exercise to get sick to a better recovery by patients on chemo if they follow a workout regimen.

A certificate of need was approved last week by the West Virginia Health Care Authority, helping to move the project along, but many details, both in terms of construction and what features the facility will offer, still need to be worked out.

For instance, Pilkington noted that the construction costs might change because prices have gone up since the budget was configured.

Also, he said, “we may want to add a gym or a walking track. We may want to put in a few things to make it nicer for the community.”

E-mail Mary Wade Burnside at mwburnside@timeswv.com.