This press release was provided by Tilton Fitness. The Club Industry editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.
Tilton Fitness Management (TFM), a nationally-recognized leader in health club operations, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Meridian Health, the leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey. In August 2012, Tilton Fitness Management partnered with Meridian Health to manage and operate Meridian Fitness and Wellness in Hazlet, New Jersey. Beginning January 2014, two of Tilton Fitness Management’s South Jersey locations will likewise operate in partnership with Meridian Health – Tilton Fitness Northfield and Tilton Fitness Galloway.
In addition, there are two brand new facilities under development within the Tilton Fitness/Meridian umbrella. Meridian Fitness and Wellness Jackson, a 32,000 square-foot facility located at the Meridian Health Village in Jackson, New Jersey is scheduled to open in February of 2014. Meridian Fitness and Wellness Brick, located in close proximity to Ocean Medical Center, is anticipated to open in January, 2015.
The partnership between the two organizations originated in 2010. Tilton Fitness Management had been operating and managing The Ocean Club in Manahawkin in partnership with Southern Ocean County Hospital (SOCH) when SOCH became part of the Meridian Health system. Effective January 1, 2014, The Ocean Club has been renamed Meridian Fitness and Wellness Manahawkin.
This announcement represents the next steps in a growing affiliation between Meridian Health and Tilton Fitness, and is consistent with the rising number of hospital-affiliated fitness centers nationwide. There is a good reason behind that trend, according to Tilton Fitness President and CEO Sam Young.
“At Tilton Fitness, we have long embraced the concept of exercise as medicine,” said Young. “In the future, hospital and health system reimbursement will be increasingly tied to the health status of the communities they serve. Exercise will be a prescriptive element in everyone’s care plan. Because of this, fitness facilities, especially hospital-affiliated ones, will be an important component of the continuum of care.
“We are very proud and excited to be working in tandem with Meridian Health,” added Young. “Just as Tilton Fitness has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most respected owners and operators of medical fitness facilities, so too has Meridian carved out a reputation as one of the most advanced and respected healthcare systems, not just in New Jersey, but nationally.”
“Meridian Health is committed to keeping people active and healthy here in our communities,” says John K. Lloyd, FACHE, president of Meridian Health. “Our shared focus on helping people maintain their health through personalized and supervised exercise and wellness programs is what sets our collaboration with Tilton apart from other fitness centers and gyms. Our facilities and our professionals are all about enhancing the health journey and experience.”
In business for more than 30 years, Tilton Fitness Management has emerged as an industry leader in the rapidly-growing field of medical fitness by working with hospitals and health systems to integrate wellness and fitness programming into traditional approaches to acute care. The Tilton Fitness clubs in Mays Landing and Meridian Fitness and Wellness Manahawkin have both earned the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the Medical Fitness Association.
“Our partnership model enables hospitals and health systems to enhance their presence in the market and improve the health of the communities they serve,” Young added. “Additionally, chances are good that someone who is already coming to your fitness center will choose your hospital or health system when acute care needs arise.”
About Tilton Fitness Management
In business for more than 30 years, Tilton Fitness Management (TFM) is an innovative management company that develops, owns and operates commercial, corporate and hospital affiliated health and fitness clubs. TFM has emerged as an industry leader in the rapidly-growing field of medical fitness and has integrated wellness and fitness programming into traditional approaches to acute care. TFM currently provides club leadership to over 26,000 members.
By developing partnerships with organizations such as Meridian Health, TFM’s facilities are able to offer the most comprehensive medical fitness programming in the state of New Jersey, including youth and senior programs, rehabilitation services and a variety of clinical and wellness programs, as well as traditional fitness programming. The clubs include Tilton Fitness & Wellness in Atlantic County, as well as Meridian Fitness & Wellness in Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
Tilton Fitness Management is recognized by Club Industry Magazine as one of the Top 100 health and fitness facilities in the United States. Tilton Fitness clubs have also twice received the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the Medical Fitness Association. For more information, visit www.tiltonfitness.com.
About Meridian Health
Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services and outpatient centers.
Meridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality. It has been named one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” for two years in a row, and is the recipient of numerous state and national recognitions for patient care and nursing excellence. Recently, Meridian Health was the only health system in New Jersey to be ranked as one of the most Integrated Healthcare Systems in the nation according to SDI and Modern Healthcare Magazine. For more information, please visit www.MeridianHealth.com or www.meridianhealthvillage.com.