Facilitating Health System Implementation of Physical Activity Screening and Referral to Community-Based Programs: Exercise is Medicine Greenville
University of South Carolina
Summary
A public health priority exists for the U.S. healthcare sector to integrate physical activity (PA) as a part of the patient care model. This research will provide valuable information on facilitating optimal implementation of a clinic-to-community model that identifies, refers, and enrolls physically inactive patients to community-based PA programs for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Further, this work will provide evidence on the cost-effectiveness of integrating PA in healthcare systems as a population health management strategy.
Description
There is great potential for promoting physical activity (PA) for chronic disease prevention and treatment through the health care sector. Research has demonstrated effectiveness in assessing patient PA levels, providing 'exercise prescriptions', and referring patients to evidence-based PA programs in community settings. However, implementation barriers exist, ranging from practice integration to information flow, resulting in no major health systems integrating PA as part of a comprehensive approach to patient care. In 2016, a multi-organizational partnership between a large academic healthca…