Halton Healthcare begins writing prescriptions for nature for patients [Video]

Halton Healthcare has become the first hospital system in Canada to partner with the PaRx program, an initiative that prescribes nature as medicine.

“It’s offering our communities sustainable and accessible ways to spend more time outdoors…. We know that incorporating these preventative lifestyle measures is an excellent step towards setting up healthier communities and providing holistic care,” hospitalist and physician Dr. Nivedita Patel said.

PaRx is an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation and bills itself as “Canada’s national, evidence-based nature prescription program” on its website.

“This is a program that we have developed with physicians all across Canada, and it’s endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association,” said Andrew Day, CEO of the BC Parks Foundation. “It identifies nature as a part of people’s health-care plans, and it enables health-care professionals, including your local GP, to add a prescription for nature as part of your health and well-being.”

Day pointed to the connection …