• Government
• Profession
• Business
• Opinion
• Health

• Health reform
• H1N1
• P4P
• EMRs
• Medicare
• Liability
• AMA House
• » More

• Book Excerpt
• Business Pitch
• Meetings
• » More

• Contract Language
• Ethics Forum
• In the Courts
• Practice Management
• Technically Speaking
• » More

• Bby date
• Regions
• Health plans
• Sections
• News briefs
• Columns
• Editorials
• Letters
• Writers
• Other years

• Search tips
• E-mail alert
• Radio
• RSS
• Mobile
• Subscribe
• Institutions
• Staff directory
• Advertising
• Permissions
• Reprints
• News media
• Site guide
• Useful links
• About
• Premium
• Contact

Doctors promote fitness with health clubs

Medically integrated fitness centers are a logical extension for some hospitals and physicians. But the business is not for the weak of heart.

By Mike Norbut, amednews staff. July 7, 2003.

• PRINT|
• E-MAIL|
• RESPOND|
• REPRINTS|
• SHARE

With obesity on the rise and new blood pressure classifications putting some people into higher risk categories, physicians have even more reasons to implore their patients to exercise.

A few doctors, however, are doing even more than that, choosing to operate fitness centers and provide the tools for people to help themselves.

It's a risky proposition based on the whims of a small segment of people, but running a fitness center has proven to be intriguing to at least a few physicians who feel there is a market for medically integrated exercise regimens.

A fitness center "is representative of how the business model has changed for a physician," said Tim Jones, MD, a plastic surgeon in St. Louis who heads a group that hopes to construct a $24 million medical spa, fitness center, surgery center and medical office building in a nearby suburb.

"This is an attempt to vertically integrate the physician practice," Dr. Jones said. "We're trying to integrate lifestyle services and the practices of medicine. The patients are demanding it."

Wellness is a growing business, one that physicians can capitalize on by using their medical expertise, said Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, president and founder of the Dallas-based Cooper Aerobics Center, an integrated clinic, research institute and exercise facility with more than 500 employees, including 21 physicians.

Hospitals also have realized this trend. Of the nearly 34 million U.S. fitness club members in 2001, the latest year from which data is available, about 5% belonged to hospital-owned facilities, according to the International Health, Racquet, & Sportsclub Assn./American Sports Data Health Club Trend Report. About 45% of members belonged to commercial facilities. Statistics regarding physician owners were not available.