Bond Wellness Fitness Center Changes

Bond Wellness Center with large glass windows and night lighting
Bond Wellness Fitness Center Changes

An Important Message for Members, Friends, and Benefactors of the Bond Wellness Fitness Center

July 1, 2021

I am writing to share an important update about the Bond Wellness Center at Monadnock Community Hospital. After careful consideration and many discussions, the Board of Trustees has made the decision to focus the Bond Wellness Center’s fitness area exclusively on physical therapy and rehabilitation services moving forward. While this change was not made lightly, it reflects the growing need to expand our rehabilitation services and better serve our patients.

We know that many of you have been dedicated members of the Bond Wellness Fitness Center for years, and we greatly appreciate the role you’ve played in building our community. The life-changing improvements you’ve achieved in your health and fitness have been inspiring, and your support has helped us become a leading medically-based wellness facility.

Although our fitness program is transitioning, all other services located in the Bond Wellness Center will continue as usual, including Monadnock Behavioral Health Services, Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates, and the Oncology and Infusion Therapy Center. We are excited to see the center continue to serve the needs of our community in new ways, particularly by expanding rehabilitation services to meet the increasing demand.

We understand that this change may bring disappointment, but we encourage you to explore the many local and regional fitness center options available. We also invite you to continue prioritizing your health through other wellness activities, including the beautiful outdoor recreation opportunities our region has to offer.

Thank you for being part of the Bond Wellness Center community and for supporting us in our mission to improve the health and well-being of our patients. We are committed to continuing to serve you with the same dedication and care.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us at BWC.questions@mchmail.org or call 603-924-1762.

Sincerely,


Michael J. Shea, Chair
Monadnock Community Hospital Board of Trustees

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. What is happening with the Bond Wellness Center’s (BWC) fitness area?

A. The Monadnock Community Hospital Board of Trustees has voted to continue utilizing the Bond Wellness Center’s fitness area exclusively for physical therapy and rehabilitation services indefinitely. This difficult decision comes after many months of considering the feasibility of reopening the center’s membership-based fitness program.


Q: Were all options explored?

A: Many scenarios were considered, but this decision was necessary given the growing rehabilitation needs of the hospital’s patients at this time. All clinical services located in the Bond Wellness Center building will continue.


Q. What is the rationale behind closing the fitness area to members?

A. Patients’ need for physical therapy and rehabilitation services have increased significantly since the Wellness Center opened and will continue to do so with our aging population. Over the past ten years, rehabilitation services have grown by 62%.

Because of this increasing patient demand, coupled with the CDC safety protocols, the hospital will continue to need more space to deliver physical and medical rehabilitation therapy. CDC safety protocols for hospitals include social distancing, masking, and limiting guests and visitors, all of which will continue into the foreseeable future even as other parts of the community reduce restrictions.


Q. Who made this a decision and when?

A. MCH Board of Trustees voted at its June 30, 2021 meeting, following months of evaluating options.


Q. Why did the Board feel the need to make the decision?

A. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to steward Monadnock Community Hospital’s resources to best meet emerging community healthcare needs, one of which is the increased demand for physical and medical rehabilitation programs.


Q. What else takes place at the BWC?

A. The Bond Wellness Center houses Monadnock Behavioral Health Services, Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates, Monadnock Family Care, the Oncology and Infusion Therapy Center, and the Physical and Medical Rehabilitation Department. Since March 2020, the fitness area has been used exclusively for physical and medical rehabilitation patients. The fitness area constitutes about 25% of the center’s nearly 46,000 square feet.


Q. Other fitness facilities in the area are open through the pandemic, why can’t BWC reopen?

A. The BWC’s fitness area is not like a privately held gym as it must continue to operate under CDC pandemic safety protocols for hospitals and healthcare facilities because of its location on the hospital campus.


Q. What kind of therapy is offered – and where was it offered before the pandemic?

A. Rehabilitation services delivered to patients in the Bond Wellness Center include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, cardiac rehab, pulmonary rehab, and diabetic rehab. It was offered in the Rehabilitation Department in the Bond Wellness Center and on the fitness floor. All of these therapies have resumed operation.


Q. Why has need for PT increased so much?

A. The demand for physical therapy and rehabilitation services has grown significantly as our older population has grown. Over the past ten years, patients’ need for physical therapy and rehabilitation services has risen by 62%. The hospital will continue to need more space to deliver physical and medical therapy.

Physical therapy is expected to grow between 3%-5% per year over the next 5 years as the number of individuals 50 and older is anticipated to increase as well as baby boomers with more chronic diseases and injuries.


Q. How can you allow therapy patients but not fitness members?

A. Dedicating our resources to those patients with high acuity in a medical environment makes sense. Other local, public options exist for those community members in search of pools, exercise instruction or fitness equipment. Physical Therapy appointments are individually scheduled visits with a clinical provider in a socially distanced environment.


Q. What are the fitness members supposed to do now?

A. We encourage everyone to continue to prioritize their health and explore other, local fitness and wellness classes, public pools or fitness facilities – or rediscover the many outdoor-based recreational opportunities located throughout the Monadnock Region.


Q. My doctor recommended I work out more – can I go to BWC?

A. While we hope to continue some programming such as weight management and other “Exercise Is Medicine” programming at some point in the future, use of the BWC’s resources and equipment is limited to clinician prescribed physical and medical rehab services.


Q. How do the MCH medical professionals feel about this decision?

A. Dr. Shawn Harrington, the medical director for the Bond Wellness Center, understands the change is necessary and noted, “This is the beginning of a new chapter in MCH’s continued evolution in serving the health needs of our community. We are excited to further develop medically-based programming to target chronic disease management and to make a strong impact on reducing morbidity using scientifically based programs.”


Q. What if I have a question that is not covered on this list?

A. You may send an inquiry or message via email at BWC.questions@MCHmail.org or call 603-924-1762.