MERIDIAN — Anderson Health and Fitness Center is raising the bar on fitness and well-being.
On Tuesday, the board of directors of Anderson Regional Medical Center ratified what is described as an "exciting new vision and direction" for the fitness facility.
"This vision will encompass a new medically based facility that will integrate all disciplines within Anderson Regional Medical Center," said Denton Farr, vice president.
Opened in 1987, Anderson Health and Fitness Center currently houses a 60,000 square foot fitness/rehabilitation facility. Plans to completely renovate the existing facility include an additional 20,000 square feet.
“The concepts of disease prevention and health promotion are now being seen as essential components in a hospital’s provision of health services," said Peg Campana, general manager of the health and fitness center.
"Although many healthcare providers have begun devoting resources to wellness and health promotion, few have been able to incorporate the elements of disease management, employee wellness, preventive medicine, complementary medicine, and community health education in one facility,” said Campana.
The concept of medical fitness involves an integration of a medical component as well as a fitness component, creating a facility focusing on disease prevention and health promotion.
"This facility will provide an avenue for the beginning exerciser to the elite athlete," Farr said.
It also will provide the methodology for moving individuals in rehabilitative programs into a healthy exercise and lifestyle regiment. Additional programming and equipment will be integrated within the physical rehab departments.
“Anderson has all of these components and the potential to integrate them in a manner that can truly set it apart from its local competition and allow it to lead, not just on a regional basis but as a statewide model as an innovative continuum of care,” Farr said.
Ann Weddington, marketing director, added, "In addition to a facility that has outstanding architectural design and aesthetic excellence, Anderson Health and Facility Center is staffed by highly educated and trained individuals who focus on high quality service and provide special attention to the needs of individuals with medical problems under approved protocols."
In the fitness center, patients in treatment for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cardiac Rehabilitation and other prescribed healthcare related services would be encouraged to use facilities and equipment as part of their treatment.
"This cross-utilization of the center by patients supports recovery from their injuries or illnesses more quickly than in a conventional rehabilitation setting," Campana said. "Equally important, it encourages patients to develop healthier lifestyles and to maintain those lifestyles once treatment has been completed."
In conjunction with this new and innovative program, the hospital will extend its existing parking complex to include an additional 500 parking spaces for patients of physicians in the Medical Towers, hospital patients and guests and fitness center members.
Construction on the project will be phased in so that all services will remain open during the renovation process.
"It will be challenging, but we feel that we can do it," Campana said.
Architectural plans are currently being finalized, and additional details will be release on construction start up in the coming months.
CHANGES
The new renovated Anderson Health and Fitness Center will include:
• A gymnasium that includes a full-size basketball court
• A 25 meter, six-lane lap swimming pool
• A 30 x 30 warm water therapy pool
• Areas for free-weights, strength and cardiovascular exercise equipment
• Aerobics and other group fitness activities
• Classrooms
• Whirlpools
• Saunas
• Childcare
• Upgraded dressing and locker room
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