Latifat T. Apatira, MD, MPH, fourth-year internal medicine and preventive medicine resident, believes that in order for Exercise as a Vital Sign (EVS) to succeed, health care providers need to help connect patients with resources in the communities where they live – outside of the exam room.
Part four of her seven-part blog highlights the community-clinic component of EVS, in which health care providers point their patients to a wealth of diverse programs and initiatives for fitness – what Dr. Apatira calls “finding their thing.”
The blog features several examples of community-clinic integration that Kaiser Permanente is exploring, as well as Dr. Apatira’s ideas of how to link patients to community resources.
Resources include:
- City/Community Listings – Most official city websites have listings for activities that support physical activity.
- Parks Prescription – A movement to strengthen connections between the health care system and United States public lands, Park Prescription works with providers to encourage patients to get physically active at their local public parks.
Read the full blog to see more of Dr. Apatira’s health and fitness tips, including apps that track exercise levels.
