Exercise is Medicine

Resources for the Exercise Professional

Qualified exercise professionals are integral to Exercise is Medicine^®. Health care providers must be able to expand their reach of care and refer patients for exercise guidance by qualified exercise professionals or allied health care staff.

Some patients will benefit from the clinical guidance and monitoring provided by cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation programs. These programs are often staffed by clinical exercise physiologists (RCEPS, CEPs) and nurses. A clinical exercise physiologist is an allied health care professional who utilizes scientific rationale to design, administer and supervise exercise testing and therapeutic training programs for individuals with chronic health disorders, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and metabolic disorders.

Other patients need treatment and individualized exercise for musculoskeletal or neuromuscular conditions prior to engaging in a broader physical activity program. Physical therapists, occupational therapists and athletic trainers play a key role in this area.

Exercise physiologists and personal trainers who possess NCCA accredited certifications and/or the EIM Credential are integral to Exercise is Medicine. Sedentary patients, or those with chronic diseases, often have limited access to reimbursed exercise programs within the healthcare setting. Patients need community-based solutions (professionals, places, programs) where they can be physically active and receive expert training. Properly prepared exercise professionals have an opportunity to work with referred patients and develop on-going relationships with healthcare providers and practices.

EIM Credential

ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine^® (EIM) Credential is a designation earned by those who have achieved a combination of education and certification enabling them to provide exercise guidance as an extended member of the health care team.

The EIM Credential online course is designed to help exercise professionals learn more about how to work effectively as a member of the extended healthcare team, provide exercise guidance to individuals with the most common chronic diseases, and utilize behavioral support strategies to help a patient successfully integrate regular physical activity into their lives.

Learn more about obtaining the EIM Credential.

Resource Books

ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription - 10th Edition
ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines - 5th Edition
ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health-2nd Edition - In this new edition of ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health, you have an authoritative reference that applies current research-based guidance to promote health and fitness. This book is packed with information on developing personalized, complete and progressive exercise programs. Plus, the background content and sample programs provide insights on both the why and the how of developing a complete exercise program. You can confidently recommend this ACSM-reviewed book as a “take home” resource for clients and patients.

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Gold level recognition is the highest level of recognition and signifies the implementation of one or several components of the EIM Solution on the University campus, with the potential of extending into the local community. Community partnerships provide real world experience for students, while providing service to the local community.

Gold level campuses must assess physical activity as a vital sign.

A Gold level campus must also be engaged in at least (1) of the following:

* My campus assesses their patients' physical activity as a vital sign?

Yes No

* My campus is creating collaborations between university health care professionals and exercise professionals to provide physical activity prescriptions?

Yes No

* My campus has non-clinical professionals/departments directing students, faculty, and/or staff to the recreation center for health and fitness counseling?

Yes No

* My campus has a computer-based system to track patient participation in physical activity interventions?

Yes No

Other:

Silver level recognition includes activities related to awareness and promotion, and incorporates education for the university’s students, faculty, staff, and health care professionals, as well as those in the surrounding community, on EIM and its mission on campus. Silver campuses are actively engaged in educating others on the EIM solution for both the treatment and prevention of long-term illness and disease. University students are educated on the aims of EIM in health care, potentially certified as EIM health fitness professionals, and guided on how they can play a role in making physical activity an integral part of health care.

Silver level campuses must be engaged in at least (3) of the following: * My campus hosts classes that teach students the fundamentals of EIM on Campus and their potential role in fulfilling the mission of EIM?

Yes No

* My campus trains students to educate campus community members on EIM and the importance of physical activity as medicine?

Yes No

* My campus works with campus health services so that every health care provider discusses physical activity with every patient or client?

Yes No

Other:

Bronze level recognition is the first step in creating the EIM initiative on Campus. These campuses bring attention to the growing need for physical activity and take action in helping to create a healthier, more active campus environment.

Bronze level campuses create awareness of the importance of exercise and regular physical activity for health and promote exercise to students, faculty, staff and the community through engagement in any of the following activities. Bronze level campuses must engage in at least (3) of the following:

* My campus hosts events that promote physical activity?

Yes No

* My campus markets events that encourage all campus members to discuss physical activity with their health care professional?

Yes No

* My campus has created options for exercise that are easily accessible to the campus community?

Yes No

* My campus has completed a Mayoral, Governor, or University President EIM on Campus Month Proclamation?

Yes No

Other:

* Contact Person/Program Director:

* Resource Type (check all that apply):
Clinic or Hospital (inpatient) Community
Clinic or Hospital (outpatient) Home Based
Cancer Exercise Professional Digital/Online
Research Study

* What age groups are included (check all that apply)?
Adult Pediatric

* What cancer types are included in your program?

* What stages of treatment are included (check all that apply)?
Curative    Palliative
During Treatment    Post Treatment
Rehabilitation    Prehabilitation

* Who refers into the program? (How do clients access your program?) (check all that apply)
Client Clinician
Other

* What are the qualifications of the instructors?

* Is there a baseline safety evaluation of the client?

* If yes, performed by whom (check all that apply)?
Instructor Physician
Other

* What is the program duration? (e.g.; 12 weeks, 1 year)

* What is the frequency of sessions per week?

* Are sessions conducted in groups or individualized (check all that apply)?
Group Individualized

* How many years has the program been running?

* How many clients go through your program per year?

* Has your program ever been evaluated or audited?

* Please include a brief description (250 words or less) summarizing the above information:

* Who filled out this form?

* What is your role in the program?

Some patients will benefit from the clinical guidance and monitoring provided by cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation programs. These programs are often staffed by clinical exercise physiologists (RCEPS, CEPs) and nurses. A clinical exercise physiologist is an allied health care professional who utilizes scientific rationale to design, administer and supervise exercise testing and therapeutic training programs for individuals with chronic health disorders, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and metabolic disorders.

Other patients need treatment and individualized exercise for musculoskeletal or neuromuscular conditions prior to engaging in a broader physical activity program. Physical therapists, occupational therapists and athletic trainers play a key role in this area.

Exercise physiologists and personal trainers who possess NCCA accredited certifications and/or the EIM Credential are integral to Exercise is Medicine. Sedentary patients, or those with chronic diseases, often have limited access to reimbursed exercise programs within the healthcare setting. Patients need community-based solutions (professionals, places, programs) where they can be physically active and receive expert training. Properly prepared exercise professionals have an opportunity to work with referred patients and develop on-going relationships with healthcare providers and practices.

EIM Credential

Learn more about obtaining the EIM Credential.

Resource Books

ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription - 10th Edition
ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines - 5th Edition
ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health-2nd Edition - In this new edition of ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health, you have an authoritative reference that applies current research-based guidance to promote health and fitness. This book is packed with information on developing personalized, complete and progressive exercise programs. Plus, the background content and sample programs provide insights on both the why and the how of developing a complete exercise program. You can confidently recommend this ACSM-reviewed book as a “take home” resource for clients and patients.

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