What was the Roanoke Athletic Club (the RAC) on Starkey Road in southwest Roanoke County officially became Carilion Wellness about a month ago. Carilion officials made the name change a little more official with a ribbon cutting in late January.
The Botetourt Athletic Club and the RAC Express downtown also changed their names to better reflect their mission – it’s not just a gym said Carilion officials, it’s a place to maintain better health and wellness – keeping people out of doctor’s offices and emergency rooms.
Carilion Clinic president and CEO Nancy Agee and Vice President for Wellness Bud Grey helped cut the ribbon, as did several longtime RAC members who spoke about how they or a family member benefited from trainers and the equipment. “This is a big, exciting facility,” said Agee, and even if you continue to call it the RAC, “just come and take care of your health,” she implored.
The evolution to Carilion Wellness started with what Agee termed a “necessary refresh,” of the facilities in the building. “That led us to think about our whole journey in wellness,” said Agee, who points to programs like “Fit Rx” that are striving to make participants fitter and healthier.
“We thought, does the RAC still make sense as our name, or should we try to communicate what’s really important to us …improving the health of the communities we serve?” That’s how Carilion Wellness, as the new nameplate, came to be.
Wellness and better health that keeps people out of ER’s and doctor’s offices is the future said Agee, requiring a mindset change on both the patient and health care provider side of the equation, perhaps. It will take time to get there, said Agee, but that’s where the future is.
Grey thanked facility director Julie Moore and her staff for the “Herculean effort” to kept things going while the former RAC was refreshed and changed over to Carilion Wellness. He also thanked members for their patience while they were being moved around during the remodeling.
Grey recalled that in the RAC’s early days, fitness classes were held in one small room for “hobbyists” only; now 150+ classes weekly are taught by certified instructors. “It’s come a long, long way.” From one Lifecycle there are now more than 100 pieces of exercise equipment scattered around the Starkey Road facility.
Vickie Hudson has lost more than 100 pounds over the past few years; with the Fit Rx program at the facility helping her shed those pounds. “That has taught me priceless information [on how to] obtain those goals.” Trainers have pushed her to “believe in myself.” The 59-year-old, who once weighed around 300 lbs., has even started to do some running. “I love the new name Carilion Wellness – that is what it’s all about – your wellness.”
The facelift and name change was about more than equipment, cautioned Bud Grey: “We’re face-lifting our focus, if you will, in a more clinical direction …in line with our mission.”
Grey said functional training – helping people get stronger for the things they do on a regular basis – led to the conversion of three racquetball courts into a functional training center. Balance and strength – to help grandparents lift children, or grocery bags perhaps, is at the core of functional training. Pre and post-surgery functional training programs will be developed for members and non-members, noted Grey.
“We’ve outgrown that name,” said Grey of the Roanoke Athletic Club moniker. He acknowledged the “emotional tentacles” to that name, but said Carilion’s mission had changed. “We needed a name that reflected that. That’s what we’re doing – a name that more closely identifies what we’re about.”
By Gene Marrano
