The Center of Rehabilitation Excellence (The CORE) at Labette Health is more than a building. It is a general philosophy for rehabilitation, health and prevention.

The CORE is a 15,000-square-foot facility that houses Labette Health’s expanded Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, a medical-based fitness center and an aquatics facility with two uniquely designed pools.

Roughly 80 percent of Americans do not currently belong to a fitness facility or participate in regular exercise activities. The CORE’s medical fitness and aquatics facilities are designed for those individuals — the “other 80 percent.” Our goals are to offer short-term community memberships based on medical need. We provide those members with the tools to achieve an improved level of function for the rest of their lives. Instead of lifetime memberships, we celebrate successes for members reaching specific levels of improvement.

The CORE’s Medical Fitness Program follows guidelines from the Medical Fitness Association to assure best practices are followed. Labette Health offers medical fitness memberships to community members who are post-rehabilitation or have:

• High blood pressure
• Elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels
• High body-mass index.

Members are required to disclose high risk factors and have their physicians complete a medical release prior to participation. This is not covered by insurance as it is a preventative program.

Community members receive a mandatory medical screening by the Medical Fitness Manager, who is a licensed nurse and a certified personal trainer. A full orientation program is provided and a personalized training program is developed before members begin independent exercise. Membership in The CORE’s Medical Fitness Program includes use of strength and cardio equipment as well as use of the aquatics area during open swim times.

The CORE is the only facility in Southeast Kansas offering both medical-based fitness and year-round aquatics programs. The aquatics area houses two pools.. A 25- by 25-foot pool is heated to 92-94 degrees and is used only for therapy programs. The second 25- by 50-foot pool is at 89-91 degrees and is used for both therapy and fitness programs.

Both pools have ramp entry to address needs of all patient types. Both pools are shallow, gradually increasing from 3.5 feet to a 4.5-foot depth. The larger pool has a nine-foot well for patients in need of deep water for non-weight-bearing activity, and for those who prefer deep-water exercise.

Safety is foremost, and all pool activity requires lifeguard supervision. An ultraviolet water filtration system keeps chemical usage to a bare minimum, leaving the pool environment free of fumes and the water friendly to all skin types.

Locker rooms have direct access to the pool area, and a unisex locker room is available for those requiring assistance from a caregiver. The CORE also has a scheduled daycare program for use by medical fitness members.

The CORE’s Aquatic Fitness Program offers arthritis, water aerobics and Learn to Swim classes. Although its primary focus is on the adult population, The CORE works with Labette Health’s Rector Diabetes Education and Resource Center to offer free non-weight bearing aquatics exercise classes for children with a body-mass index in the 95th percentile one night each week.