Exciting news!

We are hoping to have your support for a very exciting initiative that we are involved in.

The Edmonton and area Primary Care Networks, surrounding municipalities, the City of Edmonton, the YMCA and Alberta Health Services are proud partners in a ground-breaking collaborative initiative in the Edmonton area known as “Prescription To Get Active”.  This program brings primary care providers and local wellness organizations together to increase the physical activity levels in our population using a “prescription” for physical activity.

We received great news this fall that “Prescription To Get Active” is one of six finalists across Canada for the Play Exchange grant!  The Play Exchange is a national challenge to find and support schools, students, families, not-for-profit organizations, social enterprises, and businesses that are promoting active living across Canada. “Prescription To Get Active was chosen as one of the top six entries out of over 400 submissions - and now we are looking to our partners for help!

All six finalists will be featured on a television special for the Play Exchange on CBC to air on Friday, January 9^th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday January 10th at 4:00 p.m.  During the week that follows, Canadians will select the winning idea by voting online. The winner of the Play Exchange will receive an investment of up to $1-million from the Government of Canada. Help us rally support by voting and spreading the word!   

Here’s some ways you can help:

1.  Vote! It’s easy, and only takes a minute: http://www.playexchange.ca/vote (link will be live once the CBC special airs)

2.  Share our website, story, video, photos on Twitter and Facebook! 

3.  Follow Prescription To Get Active on Facebook and Twitter:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescriptionToGetActive

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RxToGetActive

Thank you in advance for all of your support.  We hope that our strong community, partnerships and networks will help us gain the support we need for “Prescription To Get Active” to become the successful finalist when the votes are tallied in February!

www.prescriptiontogetactive.com

Prescription To Get Active named finalist in The Play Exchange!

Prescription To Get Active announced as 1 of 6 finalists in The Play Exchange

The Prescription To Get Active program has been named as one of six finalists in The Play Exchange by a panel of expert judges. The Play Exchange is a national, online challenge that was launched in February 2014 by Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose, as a way to find creative ideas to get Canadians living healthier, more active lives. More than 420 entries were received by The Play Exchange and the finalists were announced September 22, 2014. The contest was open to all Canadians, including not-for-profit organizations, businesses, schools and families.

Each of the six finalists will be featured on a CBC television special and will compete for an investment of up to $1 million from the Government of Canada to help support their program. Canadians will decide the winner by voting for the finalist that they feel has the best initiative. Voting will begin in January 2015. Each finalist also receives mentoring and support from LIFT Philanthropy Partners to develop a strategic business plan, valued at $10,000.

“Prescription To Get Active is an initiative that opens the discussion of the significant health benefits associated with an active lifestyle as well as and the numerous health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.  It offers recreation resources and low-barrier, flexible opportunities as part of the patient’s healthy living plan.” explains Len Frank, co-chair of the Prescription To Get Active strategic leadership committee.  “The strength of the partnerships between community and primary care providers along with a tangible prescription supporting physical activity  is what makes this initiative unique.”

Prescription To Get Active is a unique venture where local Primary Care Network (PCN) family physicians and their health care teams prescribe physical activity to patients who would benefit from increased activity. The initiative began in Leduc in October 2011 and launched throughout the Edmonton area in February 2014. There are now 27 recreation facilities and 9 PCNs on board.

“Being named a finalist gives recognition to the hard work between our partners and will expose our program further, “says Frank. “If the program is selected the winner by Canadians, it will allow us to expand the program across the province and eventually, across Canada.”

www.prescriptiontogetactive.com

News release annoucing launch of The Play Exchange from the office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose.

more about The Play Exchange

The Edmonton and area Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have partnered with local recreation facilities in a unique venture where local family physicians and their health care teams prescribe physical activity to patients who would benefit from increased activity.

In addition to utilizing partner recreation facilities, the Prescription to Get Active program encourages participants to engage in activity such as using community trails for walking, running and biking, public tennis courts, boating clubs, outdoor fitness parks, local ski hills, cross country skiing trails, mall walking and at-home programs as ways to get active. See the Prescription to Get Active website for ideas on how to participate.

With each “Prescription to Get Active”, PCN health professionals are able to prescribe the amount of activity you need to help improve your health and prevent disease. The participating facilities are supporting you by providing certain services when you bring a prescription to them. It might be a tour, some free access passes or a free month of access to their facility.

The participating recreation facilities include the following organizations. All offer a tour and orientation. Some may offer additional access passes. For specific details, please see our website for information on what each participating facility is offering.

• Arctic Spas Recreation Complex
• Ardrossan Recreation Complex
• Aqua-Fit Centre
• Castle Downs Family YMCA
• Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre
• Devon Total Fitness
• Don Wheaton Family YMCA
• Dow Centennial Centre
• Glen Allan Recreation Complex
• Jamie Platz Family YMCA
• Kinsmen Sports Centre
• Leduc Recreation Centre
• MacEwan University Sport and Wellness
• Mill Woods Recreation Centre
• Millennium Place
• Servus Credit Union Place
• Saville Community Recreation Centre
• Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre
• TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre
• William Lutsky Family YMCA

There is no time limit for when you choose to use your prescription. However, when you do use it for the first time, the facility will keep the prescription in exchange for the services they provide. The same prescription cannot be used more than once.

www.prescriptiontogetactive.com

Prescription to Get Active now available throughout the Edmonton area!

We are happy to announce that Prescription to Get Active is now an Edmonton-area initiative! Six local PCNs and 20 recreational facilities have partnered to offer PCN patients the Prescription to Get Active program. Visit our website for more information.

www.prescriptiontogetactive.com

Spring has sprung!

The weather is gorgeous in the Leduc, Beaumont and Devon areas! Even though we promote outdoor activity throughout the year, we know it can be difficult to get outside in our harsh winter climate. Let's shake the cobwebs off and get moving!

Please take a moment to look through out previous blog posts to see outdoor options for activity throughout Leduc. The interactive Google Map will point the way and has pictures of each location. People tell us this is very helpful to see what a location looks like before going there.

We will add more local locations soon. If you have any suggestions for locations, please email Candra Tinis, LBD PCN Communications Coordinator, here.

Prescription to Get Active - 2 more partners!

We are thrilled to announce two new partners in the Prescription to Get Active Program:

Devon Total Fitness
Arctic Spas Recreation Complex (Thorsby)

Patients can now receive a complimentary 1-month pass to these facilities with a completed Prescription to Get Active. New prescription pads including Devon Total Fitness and Arctic Spas Recreation Complex contact information have been delivered to our member clinics in Devon and Calmar. Please note that these facilities will accept prescription written in Leduc and Beaumont as well.

For more information the Prescription to Get Active program, please visit our website www.lbdpcn.com 

PCN 5 km Fun Walk/Run

The 9 Edmonton-area PCNs are organizing a 5km Fun Walk/Run at Rundle Park in May. We invite all area PCN staff, member clinic staff and member physicians, patients and the public to participate in the 5km run/walk, followed by a health fair put on by PCN healthcare professionals. Healthy snacks will be provided and there is a bouncy castle for the kids.

To register, please visit the Running Room website.

The 9 Edmonton-area PCNs include:

Alberta Heartland Primary Care Network

Edmonton Oliver Primary Care Network

Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network

Edmonton West Primary Care Network

Edmonton North Primary Care Network

Westview Primary Care Network

Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network

Sherwood Park - Strathcona County Primary Care Network

St. Albert & Sturgeon Primary Care Network