A popular gym and wellness facility in Madison is closing and being converted into an outpatient health center, according to officials with Huntsville Hospital.<\/p>\n
Patrons will no longer be able to attend the Madison Hospital Wellness Center on Highway 72 after Jan. 4. Hospital leaders are spending $10 million to convert it into an outpatient facility. Members of the facility were notified via email on Monday.<\/p>\n
The center has been open since 2003. Hospital leaders said it sees consistent daily use, with the average visitor exercising at least three times a week. However, the change was needed because the demand for outpatient service has increased significantly in recent years due to Madison\u2019s rapid population growth. <\/p>\n
Their current hospital space can no longer adequately serve the community, officials said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy converting the wellness center into a dedicated outpatient clinical space, we can expand high-need services, improve access to care, and free up areas currently stretched beyond capacity,\u201d a Huntsville Hospital System spokesperson said. \u201cOver time, this expansion will also help reduce emergency room wait times by ensuring more patients can be seen in appropriate outpatient settings rather than relying on the ER for non-emergent care.\u201d<\/p>\n
The outpatient center is set to have several departments, including advanced imaging services, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiac testing, a pharmacy and a breast cancer center. <\/p>\n
Hospital leaders say they are working to find alternatives to the wellness center for the community to use to exercise, like the Madison YMCA. Leaders say that they will ensure that the center\u2019s Parkinson\u2019s class will continue in a new Madison location. <\/p>\n