Bond Wellness Center Changes

Bond Wellness Center Changes
Bond Wellness Center

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

July 1, 2021

I write today with news that the Monadnock Community Hospital Board of Trustees has voted to continue utilizing the Bond Wellness Center’s (BWC’s) fitness area exclusively for physical therapy and rehabilitation services, indefinitely. This very difficult decision comes after many months of considering the feasibility of reopening the center’s membership-based fitness program. 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 including: Monadnock Behavioral Health Services, Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates, Monadnock Family Care, the Oncology and Infusion Therapy Center, and physical and medical rehabilitation.

We recognize how disappointing this news will be. Many of our members have been exercising at the BWC for years, some since the day we opened, 21 years ago. Over the years, the BWC staff provided instruction and support that helped make possible life-changing gains in fitness for our members. Your support helped us become one of the best and longest surviving medically-based facilities in the country.

The hospital’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of its community and it strongly believes that regular exercise is critical to good health. Unfortunately, the changing face of healthcare has made it increasingly difficult for hospitals to operate medically-based fitness facilities, such as the BWC. We are genuinely sad that circumstances are requiring this change and we encourage you to investigate other local and regional fitness center options to stay engaged in improving your health.

The Wellness Center, designed and built in 2000, later changed its name to the Bond Wellness Center in 2006 in recognition of Mr. Edward L. Bond Jr.’s $1 million gift to Monadnock Community Hospital’s endowment fund. Patients’ need for physical therapy and rehabilitation services have increased significantly since the Wellness Center opened. 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.

The pandemic has stressed the already limited health care resources across New Hampshire and the country, and the Board of Trustees has a fiduciary responsibility to steward Monadnock Community Hospital’s resources to best meet the community’s healthcare needs, which includes the increased demand for physical and medical rehabilitation programs. While we recognize that fitness members will be disappointed, we hope they will consider what patients need most from the Bond Wellness Center, today and into the future. Those needs include critical therapeutic services to vulnerable populations such as preparation or recovery from surgery, management of pulmonary, cardiac and diabetic conditions, and support after injury.

The Bond Wellness Center building has always offered much more than a fitness facility to Monadnock Community Hospital’s patients. We believe the steps we take today will help it remain a vital community asset that will continue to provide wellness and healing to those who need it most for years to come. We sincerely appreciate your support and advocacy.

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.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Get the facts and latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).