New Machines At Logan Airport Attempt To Help Travelers Stay Healthy
BOSTON (AP) — Travelers passing through Boston's Logan International Airport can now get an impromptu health report while waiting for their flights.
Four new health stations that include detailed walking paths though the airport and a machine that measures blood pressure, body mass index and weight, were installed Wednesday in Terminals A, B and C.
Hospital system Steward Health Care is sponsoring the stations for one year as part of a new health and wellness initiative at the airport.
"Now people in airports have an easy way to meet their daily physical requirements," said Dr. Juliet Nimako, a primary care physician affiliated with for=profit Steward Health Care. "We all know the benefits of exercise are immense, and many people think you have to exercise for a long time to get these benefit. But studies have shown us that even a few minutes of brisk walking gives us the same benefits."
The machines, made by World Health Networks, are a newer, more advanced generation of the blood pressure stations often found in pharmacies or stores like Walmart.
Though the machines are not for sale, each one costs about $25,000 to manufacture, according to Nic Denyer, executive vice president of World Health Networks.
Future versions of the machine may be able to test for diabetes and glaucoma, he said.
JFK International Airport in New York and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston have installed the same machines for their patrons.
Boston-based Steward Health Care is the largest fully integrated community care organization and community hospital network in New England and has about 17,000 employees.
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