LifeFit Wellness Center
LifeFit Wellness Center Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What makes LifeFit different from other fitness facilities?
A. The LifeFit Wellness Center is more than a fitness center. It is a medically supervised, case-management program to help members improve their overall fitness and wellness. Its focus is to help each member achieve the maximum state of wellness through health risk assessment, lifestyle modification, goal setting and ongoing monitoring. Everyone who signs up to join LifeFit receives two things:
- An initial health assessment to identify risk factors for developing chronic disease, and
- An action plan designed specifically for that member addressing how to minimize or manage those risk factors. The action plan is also shared with the members’ primary care physician to ensure a continuum of care.
Q. What if I just want to join LifeFit to work out?
A. The center is designed to meet the needs of all types of adults—from those who are interested in reducing or managing chronic disease risks or symptoms to those who simply want to increase their level of fitness. Every member of the LifeFit Wellness Center will be required to complete a health risk assessment and will be followed by our team of professionals. If you are not interested in this level of management, another facility may better fit your needs.
Q. Can I join LifeFit without having an assessment and action plan?
A. No. It is a mandatory part of the program.
Q. What if I don’t want to work out at the hospital’s facility?
A. We don’t require that you exercise at the center. If you prefer to work out at home or other places, that’s fine. But, as a member of LifeFit we will want our members to be assessed on a regular basis to check their progress. Our goal is to move our members toward a healthier lifestyle.
Q. Why do you put so much emphasis on risk factors?
A. Because we know that 60-70% of South Carolina’s population has one or more risk factors for vascular disease. And, two out of three people in Beaufort County are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Our goal is to help people get healthier.
Q. Why did Beaufort Memorial decide to offer the LifeFit Wellness Center?
A. The wellness center is the latest evolution in a series of programs and services BMH has developed in response to a community health needs assessment we conducted in the mid 1990s. That study revealed an unusually high percentage of Lowcountry residents are prone to chronic disease.
Q. Where does the money to pay for these new programs come from?
A. Over the last few years, through several grants and thousands of gifts from individuals and businesses throughout our community, the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation has been able to underwrite Beaufort Memorial’s efforts to take on more aggressive chronic disease management efforts, including the Diabetes Care Center, children’s asthma camps, cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs, and our new Vascular Health program. The latest step in this array of community-supported programs is the LifeFit Wellness Center which will not only help those diagnosed with chronic disease to live fuller lives, but will reach out to the broader community to help keep people well and avoid or lessen the debilitating impact of chronic diseases. The up-front costs of the Center have been funded by the hospital foundation. Membership and service fees are projected to cover the on-going operating costs.
Q. Besides the counseling and monitoring, what else do I get from being a member of LifeFit?
A. The LifeFit program will be an integrated educational process for our members. Periodically, we will offer classes on nutrition, lifestyle, reducing risks, etc. And of course, as a LifeFit member you will have access to the fitness center.
Q. Do I need to be referred by my doctor to join LifeFit?
A. We want your doctor to remain a part of your wellness plan, but you do not need a referral from your doctor to join. We will ask for the name of your doctor, so we can communicate your progress with his or her office.
Q. Do I have to sign a long-term contract to join LifeFit?
A. No. We will automatically draft your monthly membership fee from your checking account. So, if you decide to cancel your membership, we will need one month’s notice.
Q. What’s in this for the hospital?
A. Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s mission is “to deliver superior healthcare services to our patients and to improve the health of our community.” The LifeFit Wellness Center will be a valuable tool in helping the hospital fulfill this mission and better serve our community.
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