MRH to reopen fitness center
By Robbie McKay Lincoln News • June 11, 2020
MILLINOCKET – After being closed for several months, the LIFEstyle Center will be opening on Monday, June 15, as per Governor Mills guidelines.
Jane Danforth, Director of Wellness at Millinocket Regional Hospital, has shared information with the public as to the operation of the center and procedures that will be in place as activity resumes.
“We are closely following Governor Mills’ guidelines and taking every precaution we feel necessary to ensure your safety while working out,” Danforth said. “Things will look a little different when you return to the gym, and we wanted to prepare you for those changes,” she said.
People utilizing the gym facilities will need to use the fitness center entrance, and will be screened before being allowed access. Staff members will come out to you to do the screening, and masks are required to gain entry.
Locker rooms will remain closed as per state guidelines, so come prepared for your workout as changing areas and showers will not be available; however, restrooms will be open. Make sure you clean the surfaces of the equipment with disinfectant both before and after your session. Water fountains will not be available, so make sure you bring your own water. Acknowledging that working out with a mask may not be feasible, Danforth said that if no mask is being used, patrons need to increase the social distance bubble to 14 feet.
The pool is being reserved at this time for physical therapy patients. A plan is currently being developed to allow the use of the pool to fitness clients in a limited capacity in the near future. Due to the strict guidelines issued by the state, after hours gym access has been temporarily suspended. Danforth said that MRH apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
Memberships will continue from where they left off, and the gym will only be available to current clients. No new memberships will be allowed through the month of June.
Starting Monday the 15th, staff will be available to take calls at 723-6454 to answer any questions the community might have. People can also email questions to wellness@mrhme.org.
Danforth had a message for everyone who uses the center, which will now be closed for 30 minutes for lunch.
“Please be patient as we adjust to these new procedures, which will limit our capacity,” she said. “We hope you’ll be as excited as we are to get back into the gym!” she added.
Additional resources:
A letter to our LIFEstyle Fitness clients
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About Millinocket Regional Hospital
Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) is a 25 bed Critical Access Hospital nestled at the base of Baxter State Park that provides vital healthcare services to those who live, work and play in the Katahdin Region. Beyond the friendly staff and award-winning patient care, MRH provides an impressive range of specialty and general services; with a recent expansion resulting in the addition of eight new specialties and a Walk-In Care facility. In 2018, MRH was awarded the Press Ganey ‘Guardian of Excellence Award’ for exceptional patient experience; a nationally-recognized symbol of achievement for hospitals who consistently perform within the top 5%. Providing jobs to approximately 250 people, MRH is the largest employer in the Katahdin Region and a crucial economic driver within its community. For more information, please visit www.mrhme.org or www.facebook.com/MillinocketRegionalHospital