Officials from Lourdes Health Network on Tuesday celebrated the opening of another clinic in west Pasco -- this one a "Health and Wellness Center" where patients can recover from injuries or tackle weight loss.

The new clinic is in space formerly occupied by Oasis Physical Therapy and shares a building with LifeQuest Fitness near the TRAC event center off Road 68.

Barbara Mead, Lourdes' vice president of behavioral health and clinics, said the Health and Wellness Center allows Lourdes to expand its physical therapy offerings and add to the Pasco-based health network's offerings in west Pasco, a rapidly growing part of the city.

The nearby Lourdes West Pasco building on Wrigley Drive houses pediatric, obstetrics and gynecology, and family medicine practices as well as a diagnostic imaging center and laboratory. The network also operates an urgent care clinic on Road 68.

"It's another opportunity to be available and to address our customers where they are," Mead said.

Offering physical therapy in west Pasco can reduce travel time for people living in the area -- an important factor for the elderly and people who are recovering from an injury.

The clinic also houses the Ideal Protein program, a diet and weight-loss program centered around low-carbohydrate, low-fat and low-calorie protein supplements, as well as coaching to help dieters make lasting lifestyle changes. The building includes a retail store where Ideal Protein participants can buy food or supplements to use while in the program.

Mead said Lourdes has more than 500 people enrolled in its Ideal Protein program.

Cynthia Gomez-Hodges, Lourdes' director of therapies, said sharing a building with LifeQuest also allows clients of the Health and Wellness Center to access the fitness center when they're ready to incorporate exercise into their wellness program.

"It's another opportunity to meet our patients' needs," she said.