In November Power Wellness, as well as several employees and managed fitness center locations, were recognized as leaders in the medical fitness field at the Medical Fitness Association’s (MFA) Annual International Conference in New Orleans. In total, Power Wellness received eight awards, which were the most for a single fitness management company this year. Power Wellness was the recipient of the Best Practice Partner of the year award for being a leader in medically integrated fitness and assisting with the growth of the MFA. Power Wellness currently manages one-third of the MFA’s certified facilities and had five facilities go through the MFA recertification process with an average score of 99.4%.
Loyola Center for Fitness in Maywood, Illinois, was runner-up for Certified Facility of the Year. The Distinguished Facility Awards are presented to those medical fitness facilities that clearly serve as benchmarks for the industry, and whose results others can emulate. The Loyola Center for Fitness has been a certified medical fitness center with the MFA since 2014. This last year they received one of the highest recertification scores with a 99% from the facility examiners.
Bob McClain, Facility Engineer for the 5 Healthy Towns locations (Chelsea, Dexter, Stockbridge and Manchester Wellness Centers in Michigan) was honored as the MFA Professional of the Year. Bob is responsible for each location to meet the MFA requirements for building maintenance, cleanliness and safety. During his tenure, Bob has participated in four MFA certifications and/or recertifications for both Chelsea and Dexter Wellness Centers. This is the second year in a row that a Power Wellness employee has won the MFA Professional of the Year Award.
In the Rising Star category, Power Wellness employees took home three of the six awards. Kierstin Mitchell of the Virtua Center for HealthFitness Washington Township in Sewell, New Jersey won for the North East Region. Kelly Pults of Valley Health Wellness & Fitness Center in Winchester, Virginia won for the South East Region. Samantha Dumas with the Fitness Center of Thibodaux Regional in Thibodaux, Louisiana won for the South Center Region. Each winner has been instrumental in helping to provide quality and medically based fitness programming to their surrounding communities.
To round out the awards ceremony MFA announced the Program Innovation Awards. This award is presented to facilities or an individual who has designed the most innovative program that benefits the membership or community at large and addresses at least one of the following categories: Clinical Integration, Member Retention or Community Outreach. Power Wellness Centers took first and second place in this category this year.
First place went to Parrish Health & Fitness in Titusville, Florida for “Back It Up”, a program focused on reducing back injuries. Ryan Messinger, Center Director, and his team piloted the program with a local retailer to aid them in reducing back injury claims, loss time, and reducing employee discomfort. The program focuses on the primary causes of back injury and pain and ways to prevent injury. This hands-on program demonstrates proper lifting techniques as well as advocating proper stretching. Participants cited that they found the demonstrations helpful, especially the proper stretching techniques that were shown by a degreed and certified fitness specialist.
Second place was awarded Lakeshore Fitness Center – Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, Michigan for their “Workout Warriors” program that is focused on helping veterans improve their physical and mental health. Jeff Lohman, Rachel Fawcett, and Morgan Kantola were able to work Muskegon County and the United Way to help fund the program for ten local veterans in the area. Due to the success of the program, the United Way has agreed to fund another ten veterans to participate this next year.
About Power Wellness
Power Wellness is the nation’s largest medical fitness management company. Founded in 1996, we have managed over 50 fitness centers for healthcare systems, academic institutions, community foundations and senior living communities. Our team members and programs are focused on enhancing our clients’ brands, complementing their centers of excellence and proactively addressing chronic disease management and population health.
About the Medical Fitness Association
The Medical Fitness Association, a non-profit organization, was formed in 1991 to assist medically integrated health and fitness centers achieve their full potential. The Association is a professional membership organization whose mission is to ascertain and respond to the needs of medically integrated centers throughout the world. As a resource to the medical fitness industry, Medical Fitness Association is 100% focused on medical fitness, and is the first association to have focused on hospital fitness and wellness.