Call to Action: Physical Activity as a Vital Sign
The American College of Sports Medicine and Kaiser Permanente are calling for HCP to assess patients level of physical activity at every visit. Their recently released a white paper was published in Current Sports Medicine Reports. PCNA’s own Barbara Fletcher was an author.
“The time is right to incorporate physical activity assessment and promotion into health care in a manner that engages clinicians and patients,” said Robert E. Sallis, M.D., FACSM, lead author of the journal article, and a Kaiser Permanente physician practicing in Southern California. “This call to action challenges current and future clinicians and the health care community to implement Physical Activity as a Vital Sign (PAVS) in daily practice with every patient.”
HCPs are recommended to ask patients questions about how often and how long they exercise, which allows for a conversation about recommendations or resources relevant to the patient’s situation. The Call to Action also includes strategies for education and for overcoming barriers.