By Shaun Ryan
Area residents who want to stay healthy and fit have a new, convenient resource: Baptist HealthPlace at Nocatee.
The health hub, which opened in November, is designed around the fitness, wellness, medical and therapeutic needs of those living and working in the growing community and surrounding areas.
The two-story, 87,000-square-foot center sits on a 12-acre site west of Nocatee Town Center and the Lakeside neighborhood and faces Nocatee Parkway.
It features a YMCA, Baptist Center for Healthy Living, Baptist Primary Care, Brooks Rehabilitation, Seasons Café and Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation.
In addition, a range of medical specialties for adults and children, as well as on-site imaging and lab services, are expected to open in the spring.
“Baptist HealthPlace at Nocatee was created with the input of people living in this community, and what services they told us would be of value,” said Baptist Health President and CEO Brett McClung. “Our on-site wellness coach in the Baptist Center for Healthy Living will offer a concierge approach to assisting people with their health-related questions, directing them to the right resources and linking together services to help save time.”
Here’s a look at the components:
Baptist Center for Healthy Living
This is the place to go for free health screenings, personalized health coaching, guidance and recommendations on using health apps and tools.
There will be classes for new parents, new grandparents, teens interested in doing a baby-sitting service, people wanting to learn CPR and more.
“Talk With a Doc” and “Ask the Expert” programs will address a variety of topics of interest to the community. Currently, those are being done virtually, with guest speakers holding their presentations live on the Baptist Health Facebook page.
To benefit from these programs and services, a person doesn’t have to be a patient of the Baptist health system or a member of the YMCA.
To find out more about these classes and programs, go to baptistjax.com. Select “Patients” at the top of the screen and then ”Classes & Events” on the next screen. Classes are also announced on eventbrite.com and on the Baptist Health Facebook page.
Baptist Primary Care
Here, residents will find care for the entire family, serving all ages from newborn to geriatric.
“We’ll be doing primary care in terms of taking care of chronic problems for patients, like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety,” said Dr. Casey Bonaquist.
In January, Baptist Primary Care hopes to extend its hours on certain nights and add Saturday hours.
Appointments may be made by calling 904-824-1020 or by going online.
For immediate health care needs, Baptist HealthPlace will provide same-day and next-day appointment availability, virtually or in-person.
In addition, a new HealthPlace On Demand app offers online doctor visits any hour of the day or night, seven days a week. The app, which is powered by Telescope Health, is now available at BaptistHealthPlace.com or by downloading Baptist HealthPlace On Demand from Google Play or iPhone App Store.
Brooks Rehabilitation Center
Physical therapy for orthopedic conditions is offered to adolescents and adults. The center has three physical therapists and may soon add a fourth.
“I love the whole HealthPlace,” said center manager Karen MacPherson, who likened it to a “one-stop shop” for health services. “Nocatee needed this building.”
Seasons Café
Visitors will find fresh, convenient food and drink options here for the whole family.
Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation
Therapies and treatments are offered for children age 2½ to 12 experiencing developmental delays, neurological disorders and more.
This clinic specializes in intensive occupational therapy and physical therapy and rehabilitation services. Sessions are two-to-three hours per day, five days a week for three weeks. Traditional services – including speech therapy – are also being offered.
One benefit of having a facility like this is that it gives area families an alternative to long waiting lists at clinics hundreds of miles away.
“There is not another program like this in the area at all,” said Suzanne Barje, system manager for Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation Services. “Our families who seek this out have to travel to go to intensive therapy. So, I think that we’re one of a kind, which is super cool.”
YMCA at Nocatee
Among the highlights here are innovative, app-connected strength and cardio equipment; group exercise, including yoga and indoor cycling; KidZone with enrichment activities; Teen Center; an “airnasium” open air gym; and activities for all ages.
The E Gym is of special interest. Members wear a wristband that signals exercise equipment to adapt specifically to each person’s body.
“It remembers all your information,” said operations director Becky Richmond. “It knows if you have any muscle imbalances. If you’re quad dominant versus hamstring.”
Beginning in January, the Y will promote use of the Myzone app, which monitors heart rate, calories and time exercising and converts the information into Myzone Effort Points.
“You use it as a tool to help reach your goals,” Richmond said.
Other equipment uses the Advagym app, which keeps track of the user’s data, such as sets and reps. For free weights, Advagym provides a library of exercises possible with the equipment.
In the spring, Baptist HealthPlace will expand to offer several additional services. Slated to open are: Baptist Pediatrics, Baptist Behavioral Health (for adults and children), Baptist Heart Health Specialists, Borland Groover (gastrointestinal and liver care), imaging and lab services (screening mammography, X-rays, ultrasounds, bone density scans, bloodwork and more), and OB-GYN services from North Florida OB-GYN, Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Physicians of Jacksonville.
For further information, go to baptistjax.com/nocatee.
