Monterey County healthcare providers are launching a ParkRx program, joining those in Santa Cruz County who've already adopted the program that encourages patients to spend more time outside.
ParkRx promotes healthy living through a partnership among clinics, parks, and the national nonprofit Blue Zones Project. It aims to encourage individuals to engage with nature as part of their health management strategy.
“They looked at places in the world where people live the longest. And then what was it about those places that contributed to that living the longest, without the rates of chronic disease that we tend to see here?” says Kendra Howell, who works in the Blue Zones Project’s Monterey office. She says the organization’s founders studied regions where people lived these long lives and identified key factors contributing to not just their longevity but that they were largely free from some of the chronic diseases commonly seen in Monterey County, such as diabetes and obesity.
Howell says they concluded that encouraging individuals with conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes to spend more time outdoors could be beneficial to their health. In Monterey County, where diabetes rates are notably high, she says, such lifestyle changes could be particularly impactful.
Dr. Peter Oppenheim, a Salinas Valley Health PrimeCare family medicine doctor, underscores the benefits of simple activities like a short walk after meals.
“Getting moving, getting mobile is really important and it's consistent with what we've already been doing as a system,” he said, “because we're really supportive of the whole Blue Zones agenda.”
He says this can be especially advantageous for diabetics and individuals with prediabetes, providing a practical and enjoyable way to manage health alongside their families.
Oppenheim says he’ll start handing out a pamphlet about ParkRx along with other information he gives his patients. He also points out the broader healthcare context, noting a significant shortage of primary care physicians in Monterey County. He says initiatives like ParkRX can empower patients to take an active role in their health management.
This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the importance of integrating outdoor activities into healthcare practices and providing a natural and accessible means to improve overall well-being.
“Study after study after study have shown that. So walking as little as 10 minutes after a meal can help reduce how high your blood sugar spikes after taking in a meal,” Oppenheim says. “It's great for diabetics, it's great for people with prediabetes, and we do see a lot of it. It's great for people who are trying to get to a healthier weight because we know that while the vast majority of weight loss is associated with diet, exercise is a component of it.”
Now in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties patients may find their doctors “prescribing” them some time outdoors.