Therapeutic Recreation Visit by Matt Kamps

Over Thanksgiving Break I had the privilege of visiting the Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Health and Fitness Center located in Barrington, IL. The purpose of my visit to this multi-faceted facility was to report on the health and rehabilitation services the facility is known for, and a guided tour with faculty member Joe Silva to examine how leisure is distributed to members of the health club, with particular emphasis on their rehabilitation programs. The facility was constructed and opened its doors in 2003, offering health club memberships with monthly fees to those ages 16 and up. The facility sees over 50% of its membership belonging to those ages 40 and up, and offers a variety of classes, exercise programs, and therapy services to members.

Who-Advocate good shepherd is staffed by a diverse group of individuals, and all trainers and rehabilitation experts have at least a college degree in specialties ranging from biology to communications, to kinesiology. My tour guide Joe had his degree from Ball State as well as an advanced degree in physical therapy. The facility has over 70,000 square feet of space, and is located in South Barrington, IL on Barrington Road. Why-It came into existence because of an increased demand for Good Shepherd Hospital to extend its therapeutic and health services into the southern portion of Barrington to conduct health related activities independetely and in conjunction with Good Shepherd Hospital in North Barrington. Construction began spring 2002 and the doors opened in July 2003. What they provide depends on the needs of the patron. Some sign up for health memberships to use the state of the art workout equipment, indoor track, basketball, and aquatic facilities. These services require a fee for membership, ranging from a monthly fee of eighty dollars for a year long membership, to one day passes that can be purchased for fifteen dollars. From a physical therapy standpoint, the facility picks up where the hospital leaves off, providing one-on-one workout programs for various maladies, ranging from recently repaired ACL's, to work with seniors who are overcoming things such as broken wrists or hips.

Joe was kind enough to elaborate on the employment information available on the website for Advocate Good Shepherd. The facility is staffed by various individuals with qualifications ranging from high school diplomas to advanced degrees. To apply to work the front desk where one conducts member check in, handles phone calls, and is the first line in assisting people, at minimum one needs a high school diploma and available transportation. Work in public relations and hospital-patient recruitment and member recruitment also minimally requires a high school diploma and transportation. There is also an internship available in this department available to high school or college students. Becoming a physical therapist or trainer requires more qualifications, particularly a bachelors from a four year institution as well as prior work experience in a health and fitness environment. References and recommendations, at minimum three, are required of all candidates. With the current state of the economy, the facility is currently not hiring new staff, and any internships have gone from a partial salary to unpaid. I asked Joe what the best way to 'get a foot in the door' was, and he told me that previous experience in a health providing service is the biggest boost one can give to their job application.

As aforementioned, with the current state of the economy in Illinois and a spiking unemployment rate, the agency is not hiring for the moment. In terms of the services it provides, membership has decreased substantially in the last year, according to Joe. Advocate Health care is a luxury to most, but an expendable cost in a tumultuous economy. The facility has responded by offering reduced membership rates for existing members, and the option to "bridge" an existing account for no cost for 6 months to a year, with expenses to be paid at a later time. Joe said the hope is to retain as many existing members as possible using this method. To attract new members, the public relations facet of the facility is sending newsletters and free guest passes to the greater Barrington area, offering a "free sample" of the club with the hopes that some new members can be recruited in these tough times. Joe also mentioned that one of the bigger issues facing Advocate Health Care is trying to diversify its age groups and attract younger members to fully utilize its impressive amenities.
The following statement best sums how Advocate Health care defines leisure: Good Shepherd Hospital Health & Fitness Center is designed for anyone who would like to experience a new approach to health and fitness. Our staff includes exercise specialists, physiologists and licensed therapists, dedicated to the integration of prevention, wellness, and health education with physical fitness and rehabilitation services. The main benefit this organization brings to the population it serves is a venue for all those above the age of sixteen to enjoy state of the art workout facilities, but also to have access to staff that can encourage health and growth in a recreational or rehabilitation settings.

Personally, the visit was very eye opening. I got to see firsthand how diverse the group of staff members at the venue were, in addition to the varying levels of qualification each member had. I was able to enjoy a workout the day I visited the site, utilizing both the indoor track and basketball courts. I think there would be many benefits in having a job in this area of therapeutic recreation, especially given the affluent town it is located in with clients that can afford its services. The employees I did have a chance to speak with, particularly those involved in rehab seemed to really enjoy their livelihood. There is always a demand for exercise, and there are always people who suffer injuries and need people to put in the time and effort to improve their strength and conditioning, so I think a job with Advocate would be a stable and secure source of income. The facilities are also excellent, and I think it would be very enjoyable to work there. I myself tore my ACL this summer and was able to rehabilitate at this facility. The individual attention I was able to receive by trained professionals was awesome. This agency doesn't neatly fit into just one leisure service category, as it is partially a commercial recreation service, but its mission is to provide therapeutic service in junction with a hospital, so I think it deserves to be under that heading. I think one downside in working with Advocate Health Care would present is that in a stagnant economy, there isn't as large of a demand for services you have to pay for. Business is slow there right now because existing members have dropped. Also, in terms of the therapeutic services offered, the age group one would primarily work with is generally older, and this lack of a diverse clientel might not be as engaging as some other professions.
My visit was enjoyable, informative, and provided me valuable insights into the therapeutic services provided by Advocate Healthcare. It is certainly a career I am interested in going forward as a health and science major.

Link to the Advocate Website: http://www.advocatehealth.com/gshp/body.cfm?id=118