MCH wellness center

Taking a cue from the theme of wellness in cold conditions outside, the golden shovels moved inside as Medical Center Hospital celebrated the start of work on the new MCH Center for Health and Wellness and Mission Fitness facility.

The 72,000-square-foot $15.6 million facility is scheduled to open in October 2010 and will include both medical services as well as an attached fitness room with separate entrance for people who purchase memberships.

“This will be the region’s most advanced health and fitness complex,” MCH administrator Carol Durham said.

MCH CEO Bill Webster said the new facility will provide a new focus on preventative medicine and overall wellness.

“It’s a whole new approach with a broad range of services,” he said.

Managing Director and Partner of Healthplex Associates Mark Nadel said exercise is important to significantly reduce risks of heart attack, cancer and stroke, but too often exercise is seen as painful and not very rewarding.

“This will be an exciting environment to improve health but have fun at the same time,” he said. People will be able to use the facility in their treatment for conditions like diabetes in the process.

Healthplex will manage the fitness facility, and Nadel said wellness centers with a tie to medical facilities is an increasing trend across the country. He said more than 1000 medical-based centers have been built during the past decade.

Webster said a variety of hospital services will also be housed in the center, including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation; physical, occupational and speech therapy; diabetes education and management; health education space with demonstration kitchen; radiology services like mammography and ultrasound; and an urgent care center.

Mike George of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce said he thinks the center will have an economic impact.

“It’s has the potential to draw from the entire Permian Basin,” he said.