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).