Healthcare and community-based organizations, such as parks and recreation, share the common goal of improving the health of the communities served. Efforts to strengthen coordination and alignment between traditional healthcare (for example, hospitals and health systems, independent medical practices, health payors) and community-based organizations, collectively known as “Community Integrated Health Strategies”, is an increasing trend, and are beneficial because they:

  • Build on complementary skills and utilize expertise within the community to fill the gaps in needed services
  • Offer patients assistance outside of the healthcare setting in changing unhealthy behaviors
  • Coordinate and improve access to community-based preventive and chronic care services by assisting community programs and services in reaching people for whom their programs and services were designed


Since 2018, NRPA, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been working with several local park and recreation agencies in efforts to improve linkages between traditional healthcare organizations and parks and recreation through the development of an electronic health record (EHR) referral pathway. This referral pathway aims to identify patients with chronic conditions such as arthritis and refer them to physical activity evidence-based programs offered through local parks and recreation.

Electronic Health Record Referral Pathways: A Guide to Development, Relationship Building and Implementation CoverElectronic Health Record Referral Pathways: A Case Study and Checklist for Park and Recreation Professionals

This case study provides a deeper look at a Community Integrated Health model in Oregon and offers more detailed guidance on the key factors that park and recreation agencies should consider when developing and expanding successful referral systems with local healthcare organizations.

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Electronic Health Record Referral Pathways: A Guide to Development, Relationship Building and Implementation CoverElectronic Health Record Referral Pathways: A Guide to Development, Relationship Building and Implementation

This guide provides resources for developing and maintaining healthcare partnerships as well as tools to identify and refer individuals with any type of disease to a variety of community-based programs and services.

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Increasing Referrals to Community-Based Programs and Services: An Electronic Health Record Referral Process CoverIncreasing Referrals to Community-Based Programs and Services: An Electronic Health Record Referral Process

Learn how to implement a referral process that can enhance awareness of and improve access to your programs and services and improve the health of the communities you serve.

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Past Grantees: 2018

  • Shreveport, LA: Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation and Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport (formerly University Health Shreveport), Shreveport, Louisiana
  • Westminster, CO: City of Westminster Parks and Recreation, Arbor Family Medicine, St. Anthony North Family Medicine and Westminster Medical Clinic

Current Grantees: 2019

  • Liberty, MO: Liberty Parks and Recreation and New Liberty Hospital
  • Newport, OR: Newport Parks and Recreation and Samaritan Health Services

 

For more information, please contact HealthyAginginParks@nrpa.org.

 

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