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TRX equipment .” But the site also offers amedical fitness program geared towards patients post rehabilitation , to ease the transition from physical therapy .“ It can be an abrupt stop for folks ,” he notes . While there are no nutritional counselors on staff , he says , members can use referrals to health professionals of all types within the system .
Hospital officials say the centers are a way to improve people ’ s health outside the doctor ’ s office and expand their outreach into the communities they serve . When a member joins one of these hospital-affiliated gyms , they are typically given a fitness assessment to examine their cardiovascular ability , flexibility , blood pressure , and medical records to design an individualized fitness program .
At the Center for Health and Wellness , patients with Parkinson ’ s disease can take part in a program called Rock Steady Boxing , designed specifically for their needs . There are also programs for more run-of-themill issues . “ The goal is to bring people together who are challenged with the same things ,” says Toto . “ Moral support is there ; it ’ s outcome driven , because they support each other through the process .” That support keeps members coming back , according to Toto . “ We have members who
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have been there for 10 years , 15 years .” Toto says . “ This is a life commitment . They are looking for a workout home where they feel safe .”
Despite the medical connection , insurance companies have so far treated these facilities like any other gym . Some plans offer partial reimbursements for members as an incentive to keep physically active , but many do not . UnitedHealthcare offers up to $ 400 ayear for members who log 50 hours in six months at agym or doing yoga , kickboxing or other activities . The company also allows members to earn more than $ 1,000 a year if they meet fitness goals tracked by an activity tracker or smart watch .
But the program does not direct members specifically to gyms associated with hospitals , says Jennifer Statham , a spokeswoman for the company . “ We want members to get healthy doing activities and at facilities that are broadly attractive to our members and meet the criteria of the program ,” she says . “ So we don ’ t have specific incentives for specific centers .”
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey gives a $ 20 reward for every month a member makes at least 12 visits to one of 4,000 participating fitness centers across the country . The company also offers a gym discount
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program , but does not specifically provide incentives to join hospital affiliated centers . Membership costs generally range from about $ 50 to $ 79 per month .
In comparison , the monthly price for amembership is $ 35 at New York Sports Clubs ,$ 30 at Gold ’ s Gym and $ 25 at L . A . Fitness .
Steven Davis , head of marketing for Town Sports , which owns New York Sports Clubs , acknowledges that hospitals are opening these centers to take a more proactive approach to people ’ s health .
“ They ’ re looking atitaspreventative medicine . If you work out and eat right , chances are you ’ ll have better health down the road , and we ’ ve known that for a long time ,” he says . “ Obviously , any gym that opens up is competition . We ’ ve been in the gym business for 40 years , so Ithink we ’ re better equipped in terms of fitness goals , but at the end of the day we ’ re all in this business for the same reason — to get people healthy . ■ The Center for Health and Wellness is located at 200 South Orange Ave . in Livingston ,( 973 ) 322-7444 , rwjbh . org
Atlantic Rehabilitation at New Providence is located at 550 Central Ave ., ( 908 ) 522-2215 , atlantichealth . org
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BOXING COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS ; LEG PRESS COURTESY OF ATLANTIC REHABILITATION |
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34 MAY 2018 MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE |