HEALTHCARE ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENTS HEALTHCARE STRATEGIES

Priority (H,M,L)HEALTHCARE INFLUENCING PATIENT BEHAVIOR STRATEGIESCurrent Status
(1-5)
1. Encourage regular physician communication and brief counseling regarding physical activity, eating habits and breastfeeding
2. Adopt standards of practice that include routine screening of all patients regarding physical activity and eating behavior
3. Provide training to providers to conduct screening and counseling in both a culturally appropriate and sensitive manner
4. Develop a referral system to help patients access further nutrition and physical activity resources
5. Promote baby-friendly hospital policies to increase the rates of mothers who initiate and continue to breastfeed their infants

Priority (H,M,L)HEALTHCARE INFLUENCING POLICY STRATEGIESCurrent Status
(1-5)
1. Promote high standards of nutrition and physical activity practice to healthcare and provider associations
2. Participate in the public policy process to highlight the need for community changes to improve eating and activity habits
3. Respond to news stories providing a health care provider perspective
4. Work with insurance companies to offer coverage for preventative services including nutritionists
5. Join/partner with the Strategic Alliance and local coalitions

Priority (H,M,L)HEALTHCARE FOOD AND ACTIVITY STRATEGIESCurrent Status
(1-5)
1. Serve as role models. Health providers who “walk the talk“ by making changes themselves will feel more comfortable advocating healthy behaviors with their patients
2. Invest in making healthy foods available to staff, patients and surrounding community
3. Adopt a comprehensive food policy that develops nutrition, health, and environmental guidelines for purchasing to ensure cafeteria meals, patient meals, and vending machines include healthy and sustainable choices
4. Implement activity breaks for meetings that are longer than one hour
5. Encourage employees and visitors to use the stairs
6. Provide water to drink; have clean sources of tap water and/or working water fountains
7. Eliminate the co-location of fast food restaurants at hospitals and other health care facilities
8. Enhance staff and community access to fresh produce by establishing accessible Farmers' Markets or farm stand programs
9. Institute a farm-to-institution program to incorporate fresh, local produce and other foods into cafeteria or patient meals