CrossFit as the Prescription:

A solution to the global health crisis

Experience the transformative power of our complimentary CME course, valued at 2 ACCME credits! This unique offering bridges the gap between healthcare providers and CrossFit affiliates, creating an invaluable opportunity for both communities to connect and collaborate. Whether you're an affiliate owner seeking to establish meaningful relationships with healthcare professionals, or a medical provider interested in understanding CrossFit's evidence-based methodology, this course provides the foundation for successful partnerships.

The course addresses common misconceptions, demonstrates the scientifically-proven benefits of CrossFit, and offers practical strategies for integration into patient care plans. As an affiliate owner, this free resource serves as your gateway to engaging with healthcare providers in your community. For healthcare professionals, it's an opportunity to explore how CrossFit methodology can enhance patient outcomes through sustainable lifestyle modifications.

Open to all interested participants, this 2-credit course and accompanying survey represent our commitment to fostering stronger connections between the medical and CrossFit communities.

This is the future of healthcare, and we are at the forefront of Medicine 3.0.

Last month, the CrossFit Medical Society hosted a successful in-person educational event at CrossFit HSN, where healthcare providers gathered to learn about the effectiveness of CrossFit as a clinical intervention. This milestone event marked the beginning of our expanded educational outreach program, and we're excited to continue fostering connections between affiliates and healthcare providers throughout the year.

For affiliates seeking a structured approach to building and maintaining healthcare provider relationships, The Global Health Project offers a comprehensive framework. This initiative leverages our CME course as a foundational tool and culminates in Healthcare Provider Appreciation Week, where affiliates can invite local healthcare professionals to experience CrossFit firsthand through a complimentary week of classes.

More information can be found here!

Sarah Schutt is an experienced fitness professional who started her career after graduating from IUI (Indiana University-Indianapolis) with a degree in Exercise Science. She earned her exercise physiologist certification through ACSM and worked as a personal trainer before joining Humana in their corporate wellness setting. In 2021 she joined Hancock Health as an exercise specialist. At Hancock, she quickly became involved with their CrossFit program, obtaining her L1 certification and beginning coaching. Her role involved working with diverse populations through their clinical exercise program, which is part of the medical fitness association. She was drawn to Hancock Health because of their focus on preventative medicine.

Cody Baker attended Mount Vernon, a local school near Hancock Health in Indiana, followed by Ball State University where he studied exercise science and kinesiology. Initially planning to pursue physical therapy, he changed direction and realized he wanted to focus more on applying fitness as a health intervention. He joined Hancock Health in 2018 and quickly advanced to become fitness supervisor, overseeing a team of fitness specialists.

Hancock Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system with multiple locations throughout Hancock County. The organization's wellness centers—managed by Sarah and Cody—provide fitness programs, physical therapy, massage therapy, nutrition and other lifestyle-based support for the community. Three locations feature CrossFit affiliates that uniquely apply the CrossFit methodology in a clinical setting. Through their groundbreaking initiative, Sarah Schutt and Cody Baker have helped bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and functional fitness by pioneering the integration of CrossFit methodology into these hospital-based wellness centers. This innovative approach has successfully demonstrated how medical facilities can embrace comprehensive fitness programming.

⁠⁠Sarah explains that with their diverse services they’re able to tap into many different areas of wellness. “While we maintain positive operating cash flow—something our executive director loves to highlight—making money isn't our primary goal. We aim to be what you might call a "health home." We want to create a welcoming place that draws people in, like a magnet for the community.”

One of the most significant achievements has been the development of a streamlined medical referral system. They've created a simple but effective process where healthcare providers can prescribe exercise through their CrossFit programs. This system has helped bridge the gap between medical treatment and fitness, allowing doctors to confidently refer patients to their programs.

Referrals are given to patients from the hospital and ambulatory centers to attend a 9-week program at the wellness center. It’s coined as the Clinical Exercise Program which people have access to for a very low cost—around $60. Essentially, serving as an personalize on-ramp program, Sarah and Cody’s team of exercise specialists teach functional movement along with the CrossFit methodology. At the end of the 9 weeks, the goal is to convert these people into regularly attending gym members.

Over the past six years, Sarah and Cody have transformed their facilities through strategic improvements and adaptations. They've modified spaces to accommodate various fitness modalities, including installing impact flooring and creating dedicated areas for different types of training. Their approach to CrossFit is particularly noteworthy - they've developed what they call a "niche" version that prioritizes safety and inclusivity over competition. They've adapted the methodology to work within the constraints of their facility and their population's needs.

As healthcare continues to evolve toward more preventive and holistic approaches, the model developed by Sarah and Cody represents a promising direction for the future of medical fitness programs. Their success in bringing CrossFit methodology into a healthcare setting while maintaining high standards of safety and inclusivity serves as an inspiration for other healthcare systems looking to expand their wellness offerings.

Provider Spotlight:

Sarah Schutt and Cody Baker

Written by Jenn Pishko, MSNE

Hancock Health's Innovative Approach to Preventative Care:

The Clinical Exercise Program

Written by Sarah Schutt and Cody Baker

Hancock Health, a hospital system located 30 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis, has pioneered an innovative approach to preventative care through its network of three Wellness Centers across Hancock County. At the heart of this initiative is the Clinical Exercise Program, designed to enhance community well-being.

The Clinical Exercise Program is a unique, 9-week specialized exercise regimen for patients referred by any healthcare provider, regardless of network affiliation. Led by medically qualified exercise specialists, the program supports patients with various health conditions, including:

  • Diabetes

  • Hypertension

  • Cancer

  • Cardiac rehabilitation (phase 3)

  • General deconditioning

Each patient receives a tailored exercise plan, with progress tracked throughout the 9-week period. The program includes comprehensive evaluations at three stages: initial assessment, midway checkpoint, and final evaluation. These assessments measure key health markers, including:

  • Body composition

  • Blood pressure

  • Glucose levels

  • Industry-standard balance tests

  • Cardiovascular fitness

  • Strength assessments

  • Quality of life assessments

The Clinical Exercise Program has shown impressive results across several health metrics:

  • Average body fat percentage loss: ~1%

  • Average blood pressure reduction: 6 mmHg systolic / 3 mmHg diastolic

  • Average skeletal muscle mass gain: 1 lb

The program's success is perhaps best demonstrated by its retention rate—about 50% of patients join the wellness center after completing the program. This high conversion rate shows how the program helps patients make lasting commitments to their health.

The impact of the Clinical Exercise Program goes beyond numbers. Kassie Haygood's story shows how the program can transform lives and inspire long-term fitness commitments.

Kassie's fitness journey began with the Clinical Exercise Program at Hancock Wellness Center. Reflecting on her initial experience, Kassie shares:

"I started out doing the clinical program with the Exercise Specialists here at HWC. I decided I wanted to improve my life, and one of the biggest areas of my life that I was most unhappy with was my fitness. I had none. I walked into the gym not even knowing how to use a treadmill! The program gave me access to professionals who taught me everything I know and stayed by my side through the whole process, which made the transition easier! After my time in the program, I unexpectedly fell in love with fitness!"

After completing the Clinical Exercise Program and establishing her workout routine, Kassie became interested in the Wellness Center's CrossFit classes. Inspired by the dedication and achievements of CrossFit participants, she joined the program.

Since joining CrossFit, Kassie has achieved numerous personal goals. She shares one of her early victories:

"The very first goal I had was simple: deadlift my dad! I set a goal for myself to be able to deadlift my dad's weight by the end of the year and I not only met that goal, but I've also since exceeded it! I'm adding more and more family members to my list."

Kassie's health improvements have been significant—she's lost 13% body fat since starting the Clinical Exercise Program.

When asked about her favorite aspect of CrossFit, Kassie emphasizes the community's impact on overall health.

"It's something special to spend an hour around people who share a passion for the same thing as you, who are passionate and motivating and encourage you to do your absolute best and continue striving for better!"

Kassie's journey highlights the lasting impact of Hancock Health's wellness approach. Starting with the Clinical Exercise Program and advancing to CrossFit, her story shows how proper support and environment can build lasting health habits.

Putting it all Together:

So how does the Clinical Exercise Program support health outcomes in a clinical setting?

Research on the importance of a supportive environment shows compelling data about medical adherence rates. Adherence—defined as following medical or health advice regarding medications, diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes—is crucial for treatment success. Studies show that up to 40% of patients in general medical populations don't adequately follow physician instructions. This rate increases to 70% or higher when significant lifestyle changes are needed. Poor adherence not only makes treatments ineffective but also weakens patient trust in healthcare providers. In the United States, the annual costs linked to non-adherence reach hundreds of billions of dollars, with insufficient physical activity alone accounting for about 10% of total healthcare spending.

The medical community now recognizes and accepts the importance of lifestyle medicine in promoting health, preventing disease, and treating chronic conditions. However, even the most effective treatments only work when patients follow through with recommendations. Following prescribed medical therapies becomes especially challenging when treatment plans are complex or require adopting new behaviors. While patients may understand basic concepts about healthy behaviors like quitting smoking, eating well, and exercising, they often struggle to understand why these changes matter and how to transform this knowledge into action.

Stonerock GL, Blumenthal JA. Role of Counseling to Promote Adherence in Healthy Lifestyle Medicine: Strategies to Improve Exercise Adherence and Enhance Physical Activity. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2017 Mar-Apr;59(5):455-462. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Sep 14. PMID: 27640186; PMCID: PMC5350064.

Meet Ryan Pepe: owner of CrossFit Catawba Valley and one of the first CrossFit affiliate owners to join CommunityCare: a low-cost, community-powered alternative to health insurance empowering people to take charge of their healthcare.

It’s not health insurance — it’s better. Instead of paying exorbitant monthly premiums for access to a system that does not reward preventative health, CommunityCare members pay a low monthly fee and variable crowdfunding amount (capped at totals far less than typical insurance premiums).

“When this came out, I was like, ‘Well, this is what we're doing. This is a no-brainer,’” Ryan, 51, says. “This is the way to go, I'm telling you. At least your money is going towards something. You're not just throwing it in a pile every month and then never using it.”

Direct access to a CommunityCare care advocate and total reimbursement for the Foundations Panel — a comprehensive blood panel measuring 20 crucial health biomarkers — are just a couple of the benefits Ryan appreciated.

“That was 100% crowdfunded, which was really cool,” he says. “That’s like finding money in the washer or dryer.”

But perhaps most importantly: While health-insurance companies profit from managing illness (we call it sick-care), CommunityCare offers a crowdfunded solution rooted in the values CrossFit affiliate owners and coaches share: health and community.

“The money that we're actually paying in is actually going towards a person that needs it,” Ryan says. “It's not going towards the frickin’ health insurance who's probably overcharged the individual anyway.”

“We're actually helping people out,” he continues, “and that's what affiliate owners do.”

Support the CFMS Scholarship Fund

If you plan to sign up for CommunityCare, we encourage you to use this special code during your enrollment: CFMS25

Every enrollment will contribute $250 to the CFMS Scholarship Fund. This supports our student members who are looking to get there CrossFit Level 1 and continue to teach and coach others through the CrossFit Methodology.

Connect With Us:

  • Every Tuesday connect at 2:30 pm ET to get your questions answered.

    Just hop on this ZOOM call.

    This is for enrolled members of CommunityCare AND anyone else who wants to ask questions, get real time feedback from peers, and even dig into the issues plaguing are current health insurance system.

  • Sarah and Cody will be sharing how Hancock Health refers patients directly to their wellness center as well as case studies and patient outcomes.

  • Affiliate Owners join us for a day of education and connection. Roundtables, Mastermind Discussion, Health Home Education and more! Email us if you want to join!

  • We’ll be hanging out at GAS along with a lot of our CFMS members. Will you be there? Interested in going?

    Check it out HERE.

  • It’s up to us! Connect with affiliate owners in your area let’s work together to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the affiliate. Health happens here!

    Again, email if you’d like to attend!

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