Southeast Missouri Hospital plans expansion of fitness center

~ HealthPoint Plaza's fitness center has already met its five-year membership goals.

HealthPoint Plaza proved to be so popular Southeast Missouri Hospital already plans an expansion, officials said Wednesday.

The rehabilitation and fitness center at 2126 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau will grow by 30 percent if the Southeast Hospital Board of Trustees approves the plans. Opened in September 2004, the fitness center portion of the project has already met its five-year membership goals, Southeast president James Wente said.

"It caused us to sit down and explore how we could continue to meet the needs of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson areas," Wente said. "We think there are more memberships out there."

Wente wouldn't reveal cost estimates for the expansion. The 13,260-square-foot addition to the 44,000-square-foot building will house a new swimming pool, additional exercise rooms, office space, a free-weight area and child care. The expansion will occur on the west and north sides of the building.

The fitness center has more than 3,000 members, director Frankie Erlacker said, a number that is well above projections.

In addition to fitness programs, HealthPoint offers rehabilitation services for patients using Southeast Missouri Hospital physicians.

"We feel the expansion is justified and very appropriate," Wente said.

HealthPoint needs another swimming pool because the current pool is being used so much for therapy programs, Wente said.

"This is not a health club by any means," he said. "It is a medically integrated fitness and rehabilitation facility."

When patients have finished a rehabilitation program, Erlacker said, they are encouraged to join the fitness program and continue to build their strength.

Each member and patient has a personalized fitness program that is monitored electronically. For example, Erlacker said, weight machines can prod users to finish a workout session if they stop early or to slow down their workout if they are going too fast.

"People have caught up into the fact that what they put into it they will get out of it in better health," she said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126