Wellness Center Integrates Services
At the Lancaster General Wellness Center, their mission is to enhance the quality of life at every stage. Essentially, their goal is to help make your life better. By offering classes, community groups and programs, they provide education, motivation and support for dealing with mental and physical health concerns.
The Wellness Center, located at the Lancaster General Health Campus, has historically presented behavioral modification sessions (weight management, stress management, smoking cessation), educational programs (Women’s Health 2000 & Beyond, CPR, childbirth) and holistic opportunities (yoga, tai chi, community/support groups). Recently, the center expanded its programs to include the outreach initiatives formerly offered by the St. Joseph’s Health Ministries Life Enhancement Center, which closed in December 2003.
“We felt it was important to continue to offer these services because we understand there is a real need for them in the community,” explains Alice Yoder, Director of Community Health. “When integrated into the overall plan of healthcare, programs like these can benefit patients by complementing medical treatment and assisting with the healing process.”
Some of the new Wellness Center offerings include qigong, journaling and guided imagery. Each class takes a different approach toward a unified goal—helping people relax and cope with illness and pain. “We are trying to offer something for everyone,” Alice says.
Because Lancaster General provides treatments for chronic disease or illness, the Wellness Center instructors understand the positive impact they can make in a person’s overall well-being.
“We offer programs that have a mind, body and spirit connection to enrich the whole person,” says Mary McNelis LeVasseur, Health Educator.
Support/community groups have long been a part of the Wellness Center. Recent additions include groups for Ovarian Cancer, Leukemia & Lymphoma and Brain Tumor. You can find a complete listing of support/community groups and Wellness Center programs on
www.LancasterGeneral.org. Visit the calendar or check out Patient Services, Medical Specialties, Wellness Center.