Medical model

Medical model as a key component of overall wellness

The term "medical model" refers to a philosophy of health and wellness that is medically based and looks at fitness as part of a lifelong pursuit of total wellness. Advocate Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center's commitment to the medical model of fitness provides our members with many benefits they would not receive at a commercial fitness center.

The Wellness Center follows the safety standards of the American College of Sports Medicine, an international organization that provides facility guidelines and professional certifications. The Center is also a member of the Medical Fitness Association, a national organization that promotes prevention and treatment of disease by integrating exercise-based therapies with health education. The components of the medical model include:

Professional staff

Staff in the fitness area hold master's degrees in exercise physiology, bachelor's degrees in exercise science or other fitness-related fields. Other staff members include massage therapists, group exercise leaders, dietitians and trainers that are nationally certified or licensed and have a variety of backgrounds including chiropractic, athletic training, nursing and physical therapy. National certification is your assurance that our staff members are making exercise recommendations based on the most current exercise science research and guidelines.

Member safety

Staff members are CPR- and AED-certified. The Center has a written emergency response plan and holds safety drills and mandatory safety education for all staff. In case of an emergency, knowledgeable and trained staff members have direct access to Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and first aid kits.

The Wellness Center is the recipient of a Checkmark for Quality from the readers of Chicago Consumers Checkbook magazine, was voted Best Fitness Center by the readers of Suburban Focus Magazine, and received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Medical Fitness Association.

Members of the Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center benefit directly from our commitment to the medical model. When talking with any of our professional staff, you can be assured of receiving expert information and advice.