pj3000
Jan 19, 2007, 7:08 PM
State of the art LECOM Wellness Center will replace empty lot in Millcreek Township.
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LECOM plans to 'change the health of Erie'
BY DAVID BRUCE
david.bruce@timesnews.com [more details] (http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=dbruce&category=CONTACT)
Published: January 19. 2007 7:00AM http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=AR&MaxW=240
Planned site of LECOM's Health and Fitness Center in Millcreek. (CHRIS SIGMUND/Erie Times-News)
Zoom (javascript:NewWindow(700,700,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/mal/zoom.pbs&Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=AR&NoCache=1');) | Buy this photo (http://photos.goerie.com/)
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is investing $31.5 million in Erie County's health.
Erie's only medical school is building a three-story Health and Fitness Center next to Millcreek Community Hospital, 5515 Peach St.
LECOM and Millcreek Community are both part of the Millcreek Health System.
"We have been talking about this since before we built LECOM more than 15 years ago," said Silvia Ferretti, D.O., the medical school's provost and vice president. "Our dream wasn't just to build a medical school but to change the health of Erie. This is how we are trying to accomplish that."
The building, which will be completed in September 2008, will include a fitness center with a gymnasium, three swimming pools and two racquetball courts. It will also have six medical office suites, three conference rooms, a café, a gift shop and physical therapy areas.
LECOM officials will formally announce the project this morning at LECOM, 1858 W. Grandview Blvd. It will cost $28.9 million to build the center and $2.6 million to furnish it with office and fitness equipment.
Ferretti said the center would be open to Millcreek Health System staff, LECOM students and the general public. A monthly membership will be required for the fitness center, though students will pay it as part of their tuition.
"As osteopathic physicians, we believe in the integration of mind, body and spirit," Ferretti said. "We expect our students to walk the walk and we want the public to experience this as well."
The LECOM Health and Fitness Center won't be the only hospital-affiliated center in town. The Hamot Wellness Center, 300 State St., opened in 1985.
Hospital-affiliated wellness centers offer people something different than commercial fitness centers, said Kathy Iorio, Hamot Wellness Center director.
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This architectural drawing shows the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s proposed Health and Wellness Center. (CONTRIBUTED SKETCH)
Zoom (javascript:NewWindow(700,700,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/mal/zoom.pbs&Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=V3&NoCache=1');) | Buy this photo (http://photos.goerie.com/)
"We have a team of medically trained people to help you not just develop a buff body or rock-hard abs but become functionally fit both inside and out," Iorio said. "I think the (LECOM) center will be great, especially for people who live and work in that area."
The center will benefit not only people living in Millcreek Township, but also people throughout the region, Millcreek Township Supervisor Brian McGrath said.
"Vacant buildings will be removed and in their place will be a state-of-the-art wellness and medical facility," McGrath said. "I'm sure you'll see people from all over use it."
Several Medical Associates of Erie medical practices, including orthopedics, internal medicine and obstetrics/gynecology, will relocate to the center from offices scattered across the city.
Imaging services will also be available at the center, Ferretti said.
"It will be one-stop shopping for people," she said.
Construction won't begin until September, though demolition work will soon start near West 54th and Peach streets. Workers will tear down the Millcreek Professional Building, a former gas station and the old Bianchi Honda dealership.
LECOM is building the center next to the hospital instead of on its own campus for a couple of reasons, Ferretti said. One was a lack of available space.
"This spot next to the hospital is more accessible to the public," Ferretti said. "It will provide a campus effect for Millcreek Community."
The new Health and Fitness Center comes as the hospital continues its $11 million renovation and expansion project.
That project, which involves adding a fifth floor to the hospital, building a three-story behavioral health building and renovating Millcreek Manor, is expected to be finished by the end of 2007.
Millcreek Health System is paying for both projects out of its cash reserves and has not had to borrow money, spokesman Pierre Bellicini said.
DAVID BRUCE can be reached at 870-1736 or by e-mail.
FAST FACTS
Here are some details about the LECOM Health and Wellness Center, which is being built next to Millcreek Community Hospital, 5515 Peach St.
Completion date: September 2008
Construction cost: $28.9 million
Size: Three stories, 107,500 square feet
What it will include: Fitness center, conference rooms, gymnasium, six medical office suites, three swimming pools, two racquetball courts, imaging center and café.
Source: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
http://imgsrv.goerie.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=V3&MaxW=580&title=1
LECOM plans to 'change the health of Erie'
BY DAVID BRUCE
david.bruce@timesnews.com [more details] (http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=dbruce&category=CONTACT)
Published: January 19. 2007 7:00AM http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=AR&MaxW=240
Planned site of LECOM's Health and Fitness Center in Millcreek. (CHRIS SIGMUND/Erie Times-News)
Zoom (javascript:NewWindow(700,700,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/mal/zoom.pbs&Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=AR&NoCache=1');) | Buy this photo (http://photos.goerie.com/)
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is investing $31.5 million in Erie County's health.
Erie's only medical school is building a three-story Health and Fitness Center next to Millcreek Community Hospital, 5515 Peach St.
LECOM and Millcreek Community are both part of the Millcreek Health System.
"We have been talking about this since before we built LECOM more than 15 years ago," said Silvia Ferretti, D.O., the medical school's provost and vice president. "Our dream wasn't just to build a medical school but to change the health of Erie. This is how we are trying to accomplish that."
The building, which will be completed in September 2008, will include a fitness center with a gymnasium, three swimming pools and two racquetball courts. It will also have six medical office suites, three conference rooms, a café, a gift shop and physical therapy areas.
LECOM officials will formally announce the project this morning at LECOM, 1858 W. Grandview Blvd. It will cost $28.9 million to build the center and $2.6 million to furnish it with office and fitness equipment.
Ferretti said the center would be open to Millcreek Health System staff, LECOM students and the general public. A monthly membership will be required for the fitness center, though students will pay it as part of their tuition.
"As osteopathic physicians, we believe in the integration of mind, body and spirit," Ferretti said. "We expect our students to walk the walk and we want the public to experience this as well."
The LECOM Health and Fitness Center won't be the only hospital-affiliated center in town. The Hamot Wellness Center, 300 State St., opened in 1985.
Hospital-affiliated wellness centers offer people something different than commercial fitness centers, said Kathy Iorio, Hamot Wellness Center director.
http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=V3&MaxW=240
This architectural drawing shows the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s proposed Health and Wellness Center. (CONTRIBUTED SKETCH)
Zoom (javascript:NewWindow(700,700,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/mal/zoom.pbs&Site=GE&Date=20070119&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=701190374&Ref=V3&NoCache=1');) | Buy this photo (http://photos.goerie.com/)
"We have a team of medically trained people to help you not just develop a buff body or rock-hard abs but become functionally fit both inside and out," Iorio said. "I think the (LECOM) center will be great, especially for people who live and work in that area."
The center will benefit not only people living in Millcreek Township, but also people throughout the region, Millcreek Township Supervisor Brian McGrath said.
"Vacant buildings will be removed and in their place will be a state-of-the-art wellness and medical facility," McGrath said. "I'm sure you'll see people from all over use it."
Several Medical Associates of Erie medical practices, including orthopedics, internal medicine and obstetrics/gynecology, will relocate to the center from offices scattered across the city.
Imaging services will also be available at the center, Ferretti said.
"It will be one-stop shopping for people," she said.
Construction won't begin until September, though demolition work will soon start near West 54th and Peach streets. Workers will tear down the Millcreek Professional Building, a former gas station and the old Bianchi Honda dealership.
LECOM is building the center next to the hospital instead of on its own campus for a couple of reasons, Ferretti said. One was a lack of available space.
"This spot next to the hospital is more accessible to the public," Ferretti said. "It will provide a campus effect for Millcreek Community."
The new Health and Fitness Center comes as the hospital continues its $11 million renovation and expansion project.
That project, which involves adding a fifth floor to the hospital, building a three-story behavioral health building and renovating Millcreek Manor, is expected to be finished by the end of 2007.
Millcreek Health System is paying for both projects out of its cash reserves and has not had to borrow money, spokesman Pierre Bellicini said.
DAVID BRUCE can be reached at 870-1736 or by e-mail.
FAST FACTS
Here are some details about the LECOM Health and Wellness Center, which is being built next to Millcreek Community Hospital, 5515 Peach St.
Completion date: September 2008
Construction cost: $28.9 million
Size: Three stories, 107,500 square feet
What it will include: Fitness center, conference rooms, gymnasium, six medical office suites, three swimming pools, two racquetball courts, imaging center and café.
Source: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine