title: Heart health: volume and revenue growth through clinically integrated medical fitness centers.
abstract: The number of hospital sponsored medical fitness centers has grown from fewer than 100 in the early 1980's to nearly 700 today. The reasons for this growth are: They are recognized as part of the continuum of care; They are a powerful vehicle for increasing clinical volumes, revenues, and overall market share; They can generate substantial new revenue, both clinical and retail; and, They boldly proclaim a hospital's commitment to improving the health status of the community. With proper planning and an intense focus on clinical integration, medical fitness centers can assist hospitals in achieving numerous objectives. From a cardiology standpoint, imagine being able to show the community that you have been willing to spend millions of dollars to keep people's hearts healthy. That's market differentiation.
authors.affiliation: mnadel@attglobal.net
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nadel
mesh_terms: D003710:Demography; D020446:Fitness Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006075:Governing Board; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010934:Planning Techniques; D014481:United States