Max-Wellness Opens Hospital Retail Store

CLEVELAND, Ohio — West Medical Center in Cleveland has
something no other hospital in the country has —
Max-Wellness. The retailer opened its new hospital retail concept
within the acute-care hospital, part of the Lake Health system,
yesterday.

Located in the main lobby, the 600-sq.-ft. store includes items
to appeal to the hospital’s patients, their families, caregivers
and employees. At its four freestanding stores, opened in 2010, the
retailer sells more than 7,000 health and wellness products
including HME.

“The hospital version of Max-Wellness is truly unique and a
first of its kind because it’s designed specifically for patients
being discharged from the hospital,” said company founder and CEO
Michael Feuer in a release. He added that the prototype location
would be a learning model “for future Max-Wellness stores expected
to open in hospitals and senior living centers and communities
throughout the country.”

Lake Health operates two acute care hospitals, along with 14
other health care sites including urgent care and physical therapy
locations, near Cleveland in Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga
counties.

“It’s one more way we are trying to engage the patient and
family in the post-hospital recovery, which can possibly help
reduce readmissions and further promote the importance of overall
health and wellness,” said Cynthia Moore-Hardy, Lake Health
president and CEO.

Feuer, the co-founder of Office Max, is also planning another
concept called Wellness-in-a-Box, a computerized dispensing device
from which customers can make purchases of key health and wellness
products with a credit card. The dispensers are slated for urgent
care centers, senior living facilities and airports with
merchandise tailored to the needs of customers in the particular
venue.

For more on Max-Wellness, see “Taking HME to
the Max” (HomeCare, November 2010).