Could gyms become healthcare providers?

Hey Gym World, RTS Health in Connecticut might have one of the more interesting gym models in the industry right now. It's a 20,000 sq ft facility where training, nutrition, diagnostics, and concierge medicine all exist under one roof, with the long-term goal of fitness and healthcare functioning as one connected system. Mateo sat down with Mike Ranfone, a 24-year fitness veteran, and Dr. Marko Lujic, a former general surgeon, to break down how the model works and where they think the industry is heading.

Here's how it works 👇

The gym side

This is Mike’s domain.

RTS Health's training program runs on three pillars:

• training

• nutrition

• accountability

Every new member starts with an initial evaluation covering body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, injury history, movement quality, and training goals. Mike says that information is important for understanding what kind of training makes sense for each person.

From there, members receive a personalized program and are assigned an accountability coach. Coaches stay in regular contact through direct messaging and ongoing check-ins, and also use Loom videos when needed.

Most training happens in a semi-private format, with up to 20 people in a time slot and two coaches on the floor at all times. Members follow individualized programs, but coaches are available throughout sessions when needed.

Membership is a flat $357 per month, regardless of attendance frequency. Some members train twice per week, others come in five times, but the pricing stays the same.

The medical side

This is where RTS Health separates itself from every other gym you've ever heard of.

Dr. Marko runs a full concierge medical practice inside the facility. Patients can come in through the gym or come in directly as medical patients with no gym involvement at all.

The goal over time is for every gym member to also be a medical patient, and for every medical patient to eventually train at the gym.

How a new patient is onboarded

It starts with a 30-minute discovery meeting that goes further than most doctor’s appointments people are used to. The goal is to understand how someone is functioning day to day and build a full picture of their health.

To do that, Dr. Marko runs through a review including:

• energy levels

• sleep quality

• exercise history

• nutrition habits

• digestion

• anxiety

• libido

• menstrual cycle (if applicable)

If the patient chooses to move forward, they get a comprehensive lab panel covering biomarkers that help identify potential health issues early.

From there, they complete a DEXA scan that measures bone density, muscle mass, fat mass, and visceral fat. All of this data is then used to build a personalized health plan that guides what the patient does next and how they’re monitored over time

What ongoing care looks like

So what does this level of care actually cost? Around $7,000 per year (~$500 per month), and it includes:

• Full labs every 3 months, followed by a review meeting to adjust the plan

• A custom supplement protocol that gets updated every 3 months based on lab results

• A DEXA scan every 6 months to track body composition changes over time

• An annual VO2 max cardiovascular test, resting metabolic rate assessment, and a WAVi brain scan

It’s an investment, but it’s more than what most people get from a standard doctor’s office.

💬 Dr. Marko says most modern medicine is like “primary triage,” where you treat the issue and move on. His approach focuses on care over time instead of just the immediate problem. It has helped people with diabetes, fatty liver disease, osteoporosis, thyroid issues, and hormone problems.

The ARQ program

For those who want the best of both worlds, RTS Health offers the ARQ Program, which they call a complete personalized medical performance program. It combines the gym side and the medical side into one plan.

Training and nutrition still make up most of the day-to-day-work. But every 90 days, members meet with Dr. Marko for a medical review, and results from testing and health measurements are used to make adjustments going forward. Everything is updated based on real data.

Where fitness and healthcare are headed

Mike sees a future where fitness professionals and medical professionals work more closely around the same clients, sharing information and building plans together to better support their health.

We’ve already seen versions of this in other hybrid models like Core Collective Brookline and Evolve Strength. RTS Health stands out because they’ve brought a medical doctor into the facility.

The concept shows that fitness and healthcare don’t have to be separate conversations.

TL;DR

RTS Health is a gym and a concierge medical practice under one roof. It was built by a veteran strength coach and a former surgeon, with a focus on bridging fitness and healthcare.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Gym membership is $357/month flat, with personalized programming, semi-private training, and an accountability coach

• The medical side runs at around $500/month and includes regular labs, supplements, DEXA scans, and ongoing health testing

• The ARQ Program connects both sides, with medical data helping guide training and nutrition every 90 days

• The bigger idea is a future where fitness and medical professionals work together around the same clients instead of separately

For the full story, watch or listen to the interview on Gym World.

ttyl,

j

P.S. If you found this article useful, share it with another gym owner 🙏