The Wellness Wing at PCC Austin Family Health Center, which opened in March, is offering patients and nearby residents access to fitness classes, wellness programs and a new space for community residents.
This initiative offers classes and programs that encourage daily physical activity and ongoing engagement, while also creating opportunities for patients to build a sense of community. The Wellness Wing was created to address gaps in preventive care in the Austin community by expanding services beyond treating illness.
“We think about how this Wellness Wing is really thinking about making health accessible and not aspirational,” according to Jessica Reuteler, director of senior population health.
She added: “We know that one of the biggest barriers to wellness programming is cost, so we are committed to making all of these programs free to remove that barrier completely. They are also open to everyone in the community. You do not have to already be a PCC patient. We hope you will come and check out these free fitness classes available to everyone in the community.”
The Wellness Wing offers three main types of programming: fitness and movement classes, food-as-medicine initiatives and lifestyle education. These include activities such as yoga, tai chi, dance and chair-based exercises, along with programs like Veggie Rx to support healthier eating.
“[For Veggie Rx] that’s where patients can come and get a free veggie box on Thursdays and Wednesdays at our site. It also allows them to take part in support groups, so if they are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, they can join support groups, meet with providers and get support in working toward potentially reversing their condition,” wellness manager Kelly Robinson said. The center also offers a diabetes-prevention program that supports pre-diabetic patients with weight loss and lifestyle changes focused on nutrition and physical activity.
According to Robinson, the classes are designed to keep people active on a daily basis while also creating a space where they can regularly connect with others and build a sense of community beyond just visiting a medical provider.
“I’ve had a patient who comes here and spends the whole day. There was also someone who walked into our space from another event and learned about all these different programs they could join. Now I keep seeing them. It’s great that this space gives people the chance to learn more about themselves and connect with others they might not have before,” Robinson said.
Reuteler said that stress is another major social determinant of health that, as a culture, is not discussed enough.
“We really try to reduce stress through support groups, fostering community, and helping people make connections in class. We also keep our spaces open year-round for movement. It doesn’t depend on good weather. Being able to take control of your mental wellness is important, because that’s part of whole-person wellness,” Reuteler said.
Partnerships with local organizations and programs include Chicago Run and Windy City Harvest. A six-week culinary cohort called Dash of Soul was also created in collaboration with Rush Generations to teach hypertensive patients how to cook without using salt. Austin Career Academy and Catalyst are also part of ongoing efforts to expand youth programming and community outreach.
“The Wellness Wing at Austin is just the beginning. We are expanding wellness services across PCC. There are many locations on the West Side of Chicago and the near west suburbs and we want to bring those food-as-medicine and lifestyle education programs to many of our locations. This wellness wing is really a place to pilot, learn, and refine what works,” Reuteler said.