The new Congress is hearing from Family Medicine for America’s Health’s "Health is Primary" campaign" on the importance and value of primary care in the New Year.
This includes raising awareness for value-based payment for comprehensive primary care. The campaign created a calendar to help physicians promote a healthy lifestyle to their patients in a continuous, but not overwhelming, way.
January’s focus is on health and nutrition to support people who've made New Year’s resolutions to eat better and get in shape. Patients with access to primary care are able to get solid facts about nutrition and exercise, tailored to their needs, from a primary care provider and the campaign's handouts on fitness and nutrition.
Bonnie Jortberg, an assistant professor at University of Colorado’s School of Medicine in Aurora, believes the best way to help patients is to be upfront about the need to change.
"For example, family physicians can say, 'It's the first of the year when many people set fitness goals. What fitness or wellness goals do you have in mind that I can help you with?’” Jortberg said. "Most patients spend a fair amount of time waiting in their family physician's office, so a great way to educate patients is to have posters, brochures, videos, etc., in their office for patients to read/view while they are waiting.”
Jortberg also recognizes that leading by example can be extremely important to patients.
"Research shows that physicians (and medical staff) who themselves are physically active and eat healthy are more likely to make these recommendations to their patients," she said. "Wear a fitness tracker that can be shown to patients, and if there are food or beverages available (or visible) in the office, choose healthier ones (water, coffee, tea, fresh fruit)."
