Halton Healthcare and Conservation Halton announced in early December that it would partner with a British Columbia-based foundation to provide natural prescriptions to patients with free access to local nature reserves. .
These were the latest additions to the program, which became available in other parts of Canada starting in 2020.
But how does it work?
The act says any licensed medical professional in Canada “from nurses to doctors to physiotherapists” can issue natural prescriptions. PaRx website.
Dr. Stephen Chin, Halton Healthcare’s interim vice president of medical affairs, said health care providers must register with PaRx to issue prescriptions.
Once you register and get a code, you can issue prescriptions through the clinic and add your provider code, Chin said.
As for patients seeking prescriptions, Chin said “the bar is pretty low” to get one, meaning prescriptions are given “freely” to most people.
“So there’s little reason why people should be more physically active,” he said.
After patients receive their prescriptions, they can access the PaRx website or, in some cases, local partners, e.g. conservation houlton Visit the website and fill out a form that asks for basic information and provider code.
If a patient visits the Conservation Halton website, they will receive an email with a code that can be used for 10 free visits to Conservation Halton parks.
When patients fill out a form on the PaRx website, they must also select the park or protected area they would like to visit.
Some patients may also be prescribed a year of unlimited visits to “more than 80 national parks, national historic sites, and national marine sanctuaries.” Parks Canada Discovery Passproviders can only distribute once a month.
Other PaRx program partners include Conservation Toronto, Toronto Zoo and Canadian Museum of Nature.
It’s “very important” to disconnect for a while
Conservation Houlton’s director of parks and operations, Craig McChan, said the organization is the first organization outside of a national park to allow free day access to its parks.
Patients who choose Conservation Halton as their natural prescription drug can visit one of its parks up to 10 times for free. The Greater Toronto Area includes Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills.
“You can access nature, walk in the fresh air, stand and listen to the birds…put down your phone or walk away. [it] Being able to hang up in your car, even for 30 minutes, is very important,” Machan said.
He also emphasized the importance of being in nature, even when it’s cold.
“Winter can be a dark time for many people,” he said, adding that spending time outside and relieving yourself from the pressures of everyday life can make a big difference.
McChan said 75 per cent of natural prescriptions written are for mental health.
Chin said walking outside for 20 minutes “causes a drop in cortisol levels, which can make a big difference to your health.”
He also says that spending time in nature improves mental health, lowers blood pressure, and “even [extend] average lifespan. ”
“Hopefully this will be an inspiration for them to pursue a healthier lifestyle, and it will be a starting point for many others as well,” he said.
Program available in all states
The PaRx program was launched by the BC Parks Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization and philanthropic foundation.
Jenny McCaffrey, vice president of health and education at the BC Parks Foundation, said the program is now available in all provinces and any health care provider can issue a natural prescription.
She said the program was launched not only to connect people with nature but also to promote conservation.
“It’s actually been proven that when people are connected to nature, they’re more likely to behave in a more environmentally friendly manner over the long term,” she told CBC Hamilton.
McCaffrey said the foundation hopes that integrating nature into daily life will become a “social norm” and the “fourth pillar of health.”
“Just as we want people to get eight hours of sleep a night, eat a healthy, balanced diet, and get the exercise they need, we want people to spend time in nature. ” she said.
