| Pumped on Wellness By Donald DeMars Published in Intermission, Volume 5 |
| You know there’s some sort of paradigm shifting going on when people go to the hospital to work up a sweat and get in shape. |
| That’s just what’s happening, though, at St. Elizabeth Hospital’s Wilton P. Hebert Health & Wellness Center, one of only a few of its kind in the U.S. and, with 65,000 square feet of working space, certainly one of the largest. |
| More than 100 "hospital influenced" health and wellness centers operate around the country, says Assistant Administrator Debbie Jones, who is responsible for the facility, but none so far matches the size and scope of the Hebert Health & Wellness Center. |
| Aerobic classes a the Health & Wellness Center offer a variety of types of workouts to target Beaumont residents. |
Beaumont, Texas, is the beneficiary of local philanthropist Wilton P. Hebert’s gift
to launch the Health & Wellness Center that bears his name. Located on the
hospital’s campus, the Center is housed in a new building also containing three
floors of medical professional office space.
to launch the Health & Wellness Center that bears his name. Located on the
hospital’s campus, the Center is housed in a new building also containing three
floors of medical professional office space.
The Goal is to Improve Community Well-Being
"This is the result of a seven-year dream of many people at St. Elizabeth to
encourage healthy lifestyles for people of all ages and, overall, to improve the well-
being of the community," Jones says.
As a medically-based wellness operation, the Center focuses on overall health
and fitness and disease and injury prevention, not just the traditional body building
approach. Programs offer something for everyone, regardless of age or physical
limitations, and include wellness education classes, aquatics, racquetball and
tennis, swimming, volleyball, strength training and cardiovascular fitness work.
Wellness education classes, taught by professionals from St. Elizabeth and the
Wellness Center staff, are now offered once a week, addressing such topics as
nutrition and stress management. And, heart healthy cooking classes are taught in
a portable kitchen.
"The scope of our wellness education offering will grow as we identify the
expectations of our members. We recognize the importance of addressing the
whole person in wellness education, and we want to offer information that’s both
useful and of interest to our members," says General Manager Dave Hurt.
"This is the result of a seven-year dream of many people at St. Elizabeth to
encourage healthy lifestyles for people of all ages and, overall, to improve the well-
being of the community," Jones says.
As a medically-based wellness operation, the Center focuses on overall health
and fitness and disease and injury prevention, not just the traditional body building
approach. Programs offer something for everyone, regardless of age or physical
limitations, and include wellness education classes, aquatics, racquetball and
tennis, swimming, volleyball, strength training and cardiovascular fitness work.
Wellness education classes, taught by professionals from St. Elizabeth and the
Wellness Center staff, are now offered once a week, addressing such topics as
nutrition and stress management. And, heart healthy cooking classes are taught in
a portable kitchen.
"The scope of our wellness education offering will grow as we identify the
expectations of our members. We recognize the importance of addressing the
whole person in wellness education, and we want to offer information that’s both
useful and of interest to our members," says General Manager Dave Hurt.
So far, the Center’s biggest compliment has come
from Dr. Kenneth Cooper of the noted Cooper Clinic
in Dallas. Cooper, a long-time proponent of
cardiovascular fitness and the man who coined the
term "aerobics," has been closely following the
Center’s development.
During a recent tour of the Center, he commented
that some of the Center’s programs and ideas had
not yet been tried at his clinic. So, he expressed
interest in sending his staff to observe firsthand the
Center’s innovative operations
"This was a powerful complement coming from such
a reputable source," Jones notes.
from Dr. Kenneth Cooper of the noted Cooper Clinic
in Dallas. Cooper, a long-time proponent of
cardiovascular fitness and the man who coined the
term "aerobics," has been closely following the
Center’s development.
During a recent tour of the Center, he commented
that some of the Center’s programs and ideas had
not yet been tried at his clinic. So, he expressed
interest in sending his staff to observe firsthand the
Center’s innovative operations
"This was a powerful complement coming from such
a reputable source," Jones notes.
| The "Kit Fit" area offers a stimulating environment for youngsters. Wellness education offers are expected to meet members’ needs and expectations |
Range of Equipment is Extensive
The aerobic exercise area is 2,500 square feet and features cushioned maple
floors and a state-of-the-art sound system. Fifty classes each week range from low
to high intensity workouts, step aerobics, yoga, flexibility and classes that target
specific muscle groups. Aerobic classes also are held in the pool for individuals
who want a low-impact workout.
The facility includes indoor and outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball, handball,
racquetball, and squash. Runners can use either indoor or outdoor cushioned tracks
for their workouts.
Exercise equipment includes stairclimbers, treadmills, rowing machines, cross
country skiers, virtual reality bikes, upper body ergometer, and stationary bikes.
Three lines of strength training machines are available along with a free weight
training area.
After working out, members can relax in the whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas or
the sun deck. The "Healthy Options Café" offers a complete menu of heart-healthy
meals and snacks.
The aerobic exercise area is 2,500 square feet and features cushioned maple
floors and a state-of-the-art sound system. Fifty classes each week range from low
to high intensity workouts, step aerobics, yoga, flexibility and classes that target
specific muscle groups. Aerobic classes also are held in the pool for individuals
who want a low-impact workout.
The facility includes indoor and outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball, handball,
racquetball, and squash. Runners can use either indoor or outdoor cushioned tracks
for their workouts.
Exercise equipment includes stairclimbers, treadmills, rowing machines, cross
country skiers, virtual reality bikes, upper body ergometer, and stationary bikes.
Three lines of strength training machines are available along with a free weight
training area.
After working out, members can relax in the whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas or
the sun deck. The "Healthy Options Café" offers a complete menu of heart-healthy
meals and snacks.
To make fitness a family affair, the Center includes the "Kid Fit" area for children
from six months to 11 years. Differing interests and abilities of various age groups
are accommodated with foam balls and tumbling blocks in one area, hopping and
board games in another. Specially trained fitness experts lead children’s activities
that encourage active, spirited learning about health topics. The "Cardiokids"
program combines nutrition classes with fitness for fun and educational workout.
Good Habits Should Last a Lifetime
"If children are taught early about the importance of good health and exercise, they
will be more likely to carry these good habits with them through adulthood," Hurt
explains.
Special activities and times are set aside for young people between Kid Fit age and
the full membership age of 16 to have extensive use of the full facility. And, a
designated "Family Time" encourages families to exercise together.
Membership costs are a little higher than other area fitness facilities, but members
have access to a larger scope of services, according to Hurt.
"We projected that we’d open with 1,000 members and now, after only five months,
we have 3,700 members and we’re still growing. Our biggest challenges going
forward will be expanding the facility and exceeding the expectations of our
members," he says. "This is a top-of-the-line facility for our industry, and that makes
it easier to attract highly qualified professionals from all over the country to work
here," he adds.
Hurt is on the staff of Health Fitness Physical Therapy, Inc. (HFPT), the company
contracted to operate the facility. HFPT operates six hospital based fitness centers,
110 corporate-based centers, and 20 outpatient and on-site physical therapy centers.
Signing up members is one thing, but getting people in the door to learn and work
out regularly are the real goals. Success also can be measured by the rate of
"workouts per day," which currently stands at 800 - 900. Some days there are as
many as 1,000 members using the Center services.
The large Health and Wellness Center probably will reach a substantial segment of
Beaumont’s 120,000 residents. Membership is projected to reach 4,500, but "that’s
not a limit," Hurt promises.
For now, there’s a whole lot of pulse-pounding mental and physical exercise going
on at St. Elizabeth - a healthy sign for Beaumont’s future
from six months to 11 years. Differing interests and abilities of various age groups
are accommodated with foam balls and tumbling blocks in one area, hopping and
board games in another. Specially trained fitness experts lead children’s activities
that encourage active, spirited learning about health topics. The "Cardiokids"
program combines nutrition classes with fitness for fun and educational workout.
Good Habits Should Last a Lifetime
"If children are taught early about the importance of good health and exercise, they
will be more likely to carry these good habits with them through adulthood," Hurt
explains.
Special activities and times are set aside for young people between Kid Fit age and
the full membership age of 16 to have extensive use of the full facility. And, a
designated "Family Time" encourages families to exercise together.
Membership costs are a little higher than other area fitness facilities, but members
have access to a larger scope of services, according to Hurt.
"We projected that we’d open with 1,000 members and now, after only five months,
we have 3,700 members and we’re still growing. Our biggest challenges going
forward will be expanding the facility and exceeding the expectations of our
members," he says. "This is a top-of-the-line facility for our industry, and that makes
it easier to attract highly qualified professionals from all over the country to work
here," he adds.
Hurt is on the staff of Health Fitness Physical Therapy, Inc. (HFPT), the company
contracted to operate the facility. HFPT operates six hospital based fitness centers,
110 corporate-based centers, and 20 outpatient and on-site physical therapy centers.
Signing up members is one thing, but getting people in the door to learn and work
out regularly are the real goals. Success also can be measured by the rate of
"workouts per day," which currently stands at 800 - 900. Some days there are as
many as 1,000 members using the Center services.
The large Health and Wellness Center probably will reach a substantial segment of
Beaumont’s 120,000 residents. Membership is projected to reach 4,500, but "that’s
not a limit," Hurt promises.
For now, there’s a whole lot of pulse-pounding mental and physical exercise going
on at St. Elizabeth - a healthy sign for Beaumont’s future
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| For more information about Donald DeMars International, Inc., email us at donald@donalddemars.com |
| All contents contained herein, Copyright ©2003 by Donald DeMars International, Inc. |
