MIDLOTHIAN, VA - April 20, 2010 - ACAC has been officially certified as a medical fitness facility by the Medical Fitness Association, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association. ACAC is now one of only five commercial centers that have achieved the medical fitness facility designation in the United States. "The MFA seal of approval assures consumers the facility has met the highest quality standards and will offer them appropriate and effective fitness/wellness programming by qualified staff," says Brad A. Roy, Ph.D., FACSM, FACHE, MFA Board Chair Elect and VP/Administrator at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and The Summit in Kalispell, MT. "Certified medically integrated fitness centers have the professional expertise and programming necessary to safely and effectively assist all people, regardless of their current health status, to develop, initiate and maintain an active lifestyle that minimizes risk and promotes health and wellness."

Medical fitness facilities differ from traditional health and fitness centers in that they typically offer services from more highly qualified and credentialed staff, such as physicians, dietitians, physical therapists, nurses and exercise physiologists. In addition to standard exercise programming, medical fitness facilities offer a spectrum of programs that focus on prevention and treatment of disease, including strategies for nutrition, mental health and social interaction for all stages and ages of life.

The certification is a rigorous process that requires extensive documentation of the club's health tracking, medical and emergency protocols. During the testing phase, examiners randomly interviewed on-duty ACAC staff members about club policies for safety and crisis response. In addition to the club's health and fitness professionals, housekeeping, administrative and part-time personnel were also put to the test. According to Amanda Harris, ACAC's Vice President of Fitness & Wellness, ACAC passed with flying colors.

"Our members' health and safety has always been a top priority," says Harris. "All ACAC team members in every department, whether they work four hours per week or forty, are required to be CPR and AED certified."

For Harris, one of the most exciting aspects of the certification is the recognition of ACAC as a qualified partner in providing active and regular medical oversight for members who desire these services. "ACAC has partnered with area hospitals and physicians for several years now," says Harris. "This certification acknowledges the strict standards used by ACAC when tracking health outcomes using blood lipid profiles, blood pressure and body composition."

Above all, the certification distinguishes ACAC as a fitness and wellness center where medical professionals and their patients can feel comfortable and confident that members receive the attention and guidance they need to successfully manage or prevent disease.

For more information about medical programs and services at ACAC, call (804)378-1600.

About ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers
ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers, ranked #12 for single club sites nationally according to Club Industry's "Top 100 Club," has been providing quality fitness and wellness services since 1984. With clubs in Charlottesville & Richmond, VA, as well as in West Chester, PA, ACAC features comprehensive fitness facilities complemented by aquatics programs, personal training, a full-service day spa, a cafe, summer camps, senior fitness and wellness, kids' programs and corporate fitness programs. Often referred to in national and international trade publications as an industry leader, ACAC continues to break new ground in the development of fitness and wellness.

For more information about ACAC's medical programs and facility certification, please call (804)378-1600.