Exercise is Medicine

Physical Activity: A Vital Sign for Health

Reducing physical inactivity requires a comprehensive, multisectoral approach including the development of a strong research base, government policies that promote active living, educational efforts at many levels, environmental/urban planning to create the infrastructure for safe, enjoyable and convenient physical activity (PA) and integration within health care. "Health care providers have contact with the majority of Americans [giving them] a unique opportunity to encourage PA among their patients through PA assessment and brief counseling." (Coleman, K. J. et al., 2012).

The Institute for Health Care Improvement challenges health care systems to achieve the “quadruple aim”: 1) improved health outcomes, 2) cost containment, 3) patient satisfaction and 4) provider satisfaction. Integrated physical activity interventions can contribute to the attainment of these goals.

Central to the desire for increases in the delivery of PA promotion and counseling is the potential cost savings realized by health care systems, payors and employers. However, the value of regular PA far exceeds the monetized benefits alone. Increases in PA behavior affect physical and mental functioning, quality of life and other dimensions of health and wellbeing that may be difficult to calculate since they occur in non-health related areas (i.e., the impact of exercise on income and family earnings, PA impact on mood states, the effect of active transportation on the environment, etc.).

One emerging area of research is to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and scalability of different clinic-based PA assessment, counseling and/or referral interventions. This relatively new area of research, incorporating the RE-AIM model (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance), is beginning to show promising outcomes.

EIM has launched an EIM Research Learning Collaborative to advance EIM-related research. A compendium of EIM-related research articles can be found here.

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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?

EIM has launched an EIM Research Learning Collaborative to advance EIM-related research. A compendium of EIM-related research articles can be found here.

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Physical Activity in Health Care

Physical Activity: A Vital Sign for Health

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