Step #1 Toward Being Trusted Facilities Where Physicians Refer Their Patients [Connecting Health Clubs to Healthcare Series]

Here is the first in a series on Connecting Health Clubs to Healthcare Through Exercise Referrals.  

During the COVID-19 gym closures, there are a few health & fitness centers that have remained open.  They applied for and received special dispensation because they are working with patients referred by their physicians for a particular exercise program as part of their course of treatment.  How can more health & fitness centers and exercise professionals work with patients referred by their physicians? 

Step #1 toward being trusted facilities where physicians refer their patients: Ensure physicians get feedback that measures and quantifies patients’ progress and outcomes.

When asked to what extent their patients adhere to the written exercise prescriptions/referrals that they make, 28% of physicians surveyed respond “I don’t know.” They want to know their patients are successful and tend to refer to health & fitness centers where previously referred patients have reported back good success. 

“So if they start seeing the outcomes sent back to them, and their patients are continually getting better, losing weight, have less pain, that starts building trust with them.” Exercise Professional

This is step #1 in a 10-step roadmap for health & fitness centers.  It is based on the results of a research study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health between May 2019 and February 2020.  Physicians and exercise professionals were surveyed and interviewed, including questions like: what are characteristics of a health & fitness center/exercise professional that you trust to refer your patients?

Bantham, A. (2020). Perspectives on Exercise Prescriptions/Referrals and Patient Exercise Behavior Change: A Mixed Methods Study of Physicians and Exercise Professionals (Doctoral dissertation).