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St. Bernards Medical Center held official groundbreaking ceremonies June 15 for the new St. Bernards Health & Wellness Institute.
The 54,000-square-foot facility is a one-of-a-kind complex that will integrate a wide variety of medically based fitness, treatment and prevention services under a single roof. It will blend a state-of-the-art fitness center with clinical departments that promote health improvement, lifestyle modification and rehabilitation.
“This facility will allow us to consolidate health and wellness resources and will serve as a catalyst for expansion of our focus on wellness in the broadest sense,” says Chris B. Barber, administrator of St. Bernards Medical Center.
Located at Lakeshore Drive off Matthews Avenue, the structure will house a fitness center with an indoor aquatics center, indoor walking track, studio classrooms and cardio and weight-lifting equipment. It will be staffed by specially trained exercise instructors, fitness specialists, exercise physiologists and personal trainers who will provide guidance and support for members.
In addition, a number of clinical departments will be located within the Institute. Among those are the Center for Weight Loss and Diabetes Management, cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine programs.
A unique aspect of the Institute is that it will house the clinical offices of Jonesboro Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Drs. Brian G. Dickson, Spencer H. Guinn and Jeremy P. Swymn will occupy a 6,000-square-foot suite in the facility,
“This groundbreaking follows three years of intensive study and planning,” says Michael Givens, chief operating officer at St. Bernards. “We feel strongly that prevention and wellness will be the bedrock of healthcare in the future, and this new facility and the services offered here will help us have an even greater impact on the health and well-being of our region.
“Since our inception, St. Bernards has focused on meeting needs in this and other communities we serve. The new Health & Wellness Institute represents our continuing commitment to improving the health status of the area and making this an even better place to live,” he stresses.
“We know that wellness is related to health. And we know each individual can impact his own long-term wellness by embracing activities and behaviors proven to lead to better health. Through programs offered here, St. Bernards will be able to expand its ability to help people improve their overall health and well-being in many ways.
“Appropriate physical activity has positive health effects. Through exercise and healthy lifestyles, we can prevent some diseases – things like diabetes and hypertension. And exercise as simple as walking improves circulation, lowers blood pressure and even slows development of degenerative joint disease,” Givens continues.
“It just makes sense to pull together as many wellness resources as possible and integrate them into a facility that focuses on wellness. That’s what we are doing by making many preventive, wellness and fitness options available in a striking new building in the part of Jonesboro that already serves as the hub for many health-related businesses. This will give us exceptional tools to be proactive in addressing health and wellness concerns in Northeast Arkansas.”
The Institute will have ample parking, and the fitness center will be open extended hours for member convenience. Pre-sales will begin in the spring of 2011.
The St. Bernards Health & Wellness Institute was developed with assistance from ALTER+CARE, a nationally recognized firm headquartered in Skokie, Ill., that specializes in planning and developing wellness centers. Nabholz Construction Services, a Conway-based business with Jonesboro offices, will serve as general contractor for the project. Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative in Denver designed the structure, and Brackett Krennerich Architects of Jonesboro will serve as local architects for the project.
The $14.5 million facility is expected to open in the fall of 2011.