Creating open access to exercise for low-income patients through a community collaboration for quality improvement: if you build it, they will come.
Community health centers face the need for safe, accessible, and affordable exercise for low-income patients to implement self-management strategies. This study reports on one federally qualified health center's experience developing a partnership with a local YWCA to offer open access to patients for physical activity. Over a 24-month period, 1060 adult patients made at least 1 visit to the YWCA, logging a total of 14,276 visits. Among the exercisers, 112 had diabetes and made 3225 visits. Frequent users (> or =24 visits), had an HbAlc reduction of 1% (P = .02). Community health centers can collaborate with local exercise facilities to ensure that patients have opportunities to pursue healthier lifestyles.
Candib
Lucy M
LM
Family Health Center of Worcester, Worcester, MA 01610, USA.
Silva
Matthew
M
Cashman
Suzanne B
SB
Ellstrom
Deborah
D
Mallett
Kristin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003256:Community Participation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care