Doctors at the Camrose Primary Care Network are helping residents get moving in Camrose, Alberta, by prescribing free trial access to local recreation centres. The Prescription to Get Active program allows healthcare teams to give patients a formal prescription for physical activity instead of only traditional medicine.
These prescriptions can be used for free access to local facilities like the City of Camrose Aquatic Centre. The initiative is designed to help people start a new workout routine by removing the cost of trying out a gym or pool for the first time.
This program is a long-standing effort that first started in Alberta in 2011 and is now used by more than half of the primary care networks across the province. Surveys show that 80 percent of patients who participated in the program reported an increase in their physical activity levels.
Local partners like the City of Camrose and Alberta Blue Cross work together to provide these resources to the community. Residents who are interested in the program can talk to their healthcare provider to see if they are eligible for an exercise prescription.
