ST. FRANCIS PURCHASES UNIVERSAL PHYSIQUE

St. Francis Medical Center finalized the purchase of a Cape Girardeau health and fitness club Thursday.

Effective July 1, Universal Physique Fitness and Racquet Center will become Universal Health and Fitness Center, representatives of the hospital and the health club announced.

Doug Friese, owner and founder of the health club, will remain as general manager under the hospital's ownership. Current health club staff will also remain.

Friese said discussions began "about six months ago" about the possible sale of the club.

"I know the rumors have been out there a long time," Friese said. "Myself, my staff are really excited. It's just given Universal an opportunity to go out and reach even more people."

John L. Fidler, president and CEO of St. Francis, said the acquisition of the facility adds another dimension to the hospital's services.

"By and large we've focused on illness and we've focused on accidents and injuries," Fidler said.

But after patients are discharged, he said, "a lot of times we find that they don't get back to their full potential because they need someone to show them" how to become fit and healthy.

"We said we're going to have to be not only in the sickness business and in the wellness business, but in the fitness business," Fidler said, adding the facility ties in well with the hospital's mission to increase the community's overall wellness.

The hospital's wellness staff will work with health club staff to develop and implement new programs and educational offerings.

Gene Riegle, director of outpatient rehabilitation, said the health club will also mesh well with St. Francis's Health and Rehabilitation Center, a physical therapy facility. Patients can transition from rehab to the fitness club to continue strengthening and wellness programs, he said.

The new partnership will allow for additional programs to be offered at the health club, Fidler and Friese said.

In addition, new equipment, including treadmills, step machines and resistance equipment,and new exercise programs, including a CardioTheater System, similar to the program used by Olympic athletes, and the Schwinn Spinning Program, a super-aerobic program utilizing stationary bicycles, will be installed at the club.

Friese and his wife Lisa established the club in 1982. In 1984, the Frieses purchased a racquetball center and moved the club to its current 40,000 square foot building on Mount Auburn Road.

Nationally, more than 300 hospital-affiliated health clubs exist. Southeast Missouri Hospital purchased Main Street Fitness Center in Jackson in July 1995.