Ten years of Wellness
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

It’s 10 years old and getting in better shape by the day.

The Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center, part of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS), recently observed its 10th anniversary, and its membership rolls have muscled up with one in 10 county residents members.

The plans for the Wellness Center were spawned in the early 1990s, when the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees and administrative team explored ways to expand its scope of services.

They selected a nearby site on Boone Heights Drive that was formerly a skating rink and renovated the commercial property into a gymnasium with basketball courts, a racquetball court, an indoor track, as well as an aerobics workout space, free weights and exercise equipment, and a small physical therapy facility.

Jodi Cash has been with the hospital since 1995 and was involved in the planning for the facility.

She was the original facility director when it opened in 1998, a position she has held ever since.

Cash said the center has evolved as a local fitness resource that is used year round, as seasonal visitors take advantage of the recreational offerings in summer, locals use the gym and pool in winter, and others enjoy the regular group fitness programs.

Cash said the center focuses on improving quality of life by getting people fit, getting them ready for surgery, losing weight, and engaging in therapeutic programs, with the alliance with Watauga Medical Center benefiting a wide range of people.

She said the availability of the center provides a better continuum of care because patients “graduate” from treatment to a fitness regimen, particularly for cardiopulmonary or physical therapy patients.

“I believe the Wellness Center has touched more peoples’ lives than any other aspect of our health care system,” Richard Sparks, president and CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, said in a statement.

“It has something for all ages and all fitness levels. I’m so proud of it and the wonderful staff who make our members’ fitness a priority every day.”

An expansion a few years ago added Healthy Living classrooms, massage therapy rooms, and a state-of-the-art facility for Blue Ridge Physical Therapy, in addition to a much-needed swimming pool. There’s also a temperature-controlled therapy pool, a larger aerobic workout space for spin classes and more cardiovascular equipment.

“I think we’ve seen more of our special population come in and use the pool and other resources, and as we have been open longer, they see we can meet the needs of a wide variety of people,” Cash said.

The center also hosts an AdFit program in the summer serving adolescents, addressing weight management, self-esteem issues and nutrition. It hosts 10 to 12 classes a day in a variety of activities.

“Some people come for classes in aerobics, arthritis (treatment) in water, or heart fitness and a lot of people come in and do their own thing and some people do a combination,” Cash said.

The staff is balanced between those trained in health promotion or exercise science, which Cash said provided a beneficial connection with the hospitals.

“We work a lot with the physical therapy department and cardiopulmonary program,” she said. “They use the wellness center to get a better continuum of care and help the patients.”

While the primary focus is on nutrition and weight management, other topics addressed include eating disorders, stress management, smoking cessation, diabetes education, and heart-healthy education. The center has massage therapists who are certified by the state of North Carolina and available to members and non-members.

Cash has a simple philosophy to encourage people to give the center a try.

“If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?” she asked. “Take time to take care of yourself and you can feel better, work better and live better. We have so many different options that typically anyone can find something that they enjoy doing.”

The Wellness Center now has 4,635 members and often records more than 800 individual visits per day.

Memberships can be purchased monthly, quarterly or semiannually and one-day fees are $10, or $6 if a guest of a member.

For more information, call (828) 266-1060 or visit www.apprhs.org/wellness.