It is one of only two such facilities in state of Florida
As millions of people have embarked on 2020 New Year’s resolutions, Sarasota Memorial’s HealthFit has renewed one of its own, Sarasota Memorial staff has announced.
The Medical Fitness Association (MFA) has re-certified HealthFit as a Medical Fitness Facility, Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) notes in a news release. “HealthFit remains the certified facility in Sarasota, and one of just two in the state,” the release adds.
The SMH complex was the first in Florida to achieve the certification; that was in late 2016, the release points out. The certification was effective for three years, the release says. To retain the designation, a facility “must pass a rigorous recertification process, including an on-site inspection of its medically supervised exercise programs and review of its outcomes,” the release explains.
“The re-certification represents an ongoing commitment to provide the safest and most effective environment to help individuals achieve their personal health and fitness goals,” said Kayla Murphy, manager of Sarasota Memorial’s HealthFit center on Clark Road, in the release. “We are proud to have been able to demonstrate to the surveyors the strong sense of community that we have cultivated for our members, and the high quality programming we have developed to meet our community’s needs,” she added in the release.
Only 40 facilities nationwide have earned certification from the MFA, the release notes. A number of key factors distinguish certified medical fitness centers, including the following, the release continues:
- Active, regular medical oversight and certified and licensed staff.
- Disease management and prevention programs.
- Health-risk reduction and therapeutic-lifestyle programs.
- Individualized health screening.
- Testing and outcome tracking.
- Quality management, with a focus on measurable results.
- A focus on improving community health.
- Written policies and procedures concerning user safety and the ability to respond appropriately to all emergencies.
“As the incidence of chronic disease continues to rise, the need for more medically supervised outcomes and accountability-based Exercise is Medicine programs has never been more relevant in our industry than today,” said Robert Boone, president and CEO of the Medical Fitness Association, in the release. “It is clear that moving towards a population health prevention model of care with all its necessary components and guidelines is a herculean task. HealthFit-Powered by Sarasota Memorial has taken an important step towards filling a gap in the current care delivery model,” he added in the release.
HealthFit is a 44,000-square-foot facility, with multiple workout stations and training areas, a state-of-the-art spinning studio, sports courts, group exercise rooms and two heated, indoor pools, the release notes. More than 70 group exercise classes a week are included in the membership, along with amenities such as towel service, hot tubs, steam rooms and private massage therapy rooms, the release adds. For more information, visit smhfit.com.