The Rx to Move Program was created back in 2018 to increase the total number of youth participating in physical activity by tapping into our highly effective care coordination team to remove any barriers a family may have to engage in physical activity. As a nonprofit community health center, serving youth in 15 clinics including six School Based-Health Centers across Central Oregon, Mosaic pediatric teams are well positioned to identify and equitably address the physical activity needs of youth and remove barriers such as financial and transportation constraints for families. Any child who indicated that they have limited physical activity or had symptoms of depression, diabetes, or weight issues were referred to participate in the Rx to Move Program by their pediatrics provider. Over the past two years, Mosaic providers referred a total of 257 youth to participate in the Rx to Move Program. We found that the program not only increased physical activity among youth but it also improved youth’s mental health. Parents shared with us time and time again they noticed a huge difference in their child’s mood or attitude positively shifting over time.
2020-2024 Regional Health Improvement Plan Priority Area
Promote Enhanced Physical Health Across Communities
Future State Measures
1) Increase fruit and vegetable consumption and/or physical activity among youth
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- This project is funded through the 2020-2024 Regional Health Improvement Plan's Promote Enhanced Physical Health Across Communities workgroup.
- The project received $125,000 in funding and is implemented by Mosaic Medical.
- Learn more about the importance of the measures from the Promote Enhanced Physical Health Across Communities priority area.
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While our initial Rx to Move program has been quite successful, we learned that coordinating with families, assessing and accessing opportunities, acquiring and distributing resources, and collecting and compiling data is time consuming work that can be done more efficiently and cost-effectively by a non-medical Patient Services Representative. Over the next two-year period, the new Rx to Move Patient Services Representative (PSR) position will be responsible for: 1) continuing to implement and expand our Rx to Move program in all three Central Oregon counties, 2) establishing best practices, protocols, systems and partnerships to ensure the continued success of our Rx to Move program going forward, and 3) helping to embed the Rx to Move program at each of our existing School-based Health Centers and Community Health Centers by training and supporting existing PSR’s to successfully carry out this program at each location. Mosaic will also work to establish scholarship connections through park and recreation departments and local businesses to sustain children's ongoing participation in recreational classes, leagues and clubs over time.
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Overall, Oregon youth fall far short of the physical activity recommendations of the CDC with less than a third of 8th graders reporting that they were physically active at least 60 minutes each day of the week. When it comes to youth living in Central Oregon, we see a very low percentages of 8th and 11th graders getting the daily recommended amount of physical activity.
The Rx to Move Program was created to increase the total number of young people participating in physical activity by removing any barriers youth and family may have to participation. Youth who indicate they have limited physical activity or symptoms of depression, diabetes, or weight issues is referred to participate in the program by their Mosaic pediatric provider. The Mosaic Community Health Worker (CHW) who receives this referral follows up with the youth and family to identify the youth’s needs, the physical activities they would like to access, and any resources that would support and promote the child’s participation in regular physical activity. Once this plan is created, the CHW will then connect the child and family to a dedicated Rx to Move Patient Services Representative (PSR). The Rx to Move PSR is a new position we are proposing to help us successfully execute and expand the Rx to Move program in our School-based Health Centers and Community Health Centers throughout Central Oregon. The Rx to Move PSR will serve as the child and family’s point of contact over the next two years, helping them to enroll in activities, acquire resources, schedule transportation to/from activities with the child’s CHW when needed, and collecting and compiling data on the child’s participation and outcomes over time.
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Increase staff capacity by hiring a dedicated Rx to Move Patient Services Representative to expand the pre-existing Rx to Move Program across all six school-based health centers in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson County.
Mosaic pediatric providers would like to engage youth who report having low levels of physical activity and engage them in a conversation to motivate them to increase their physical activity levels.
Establish best practices, protocols, systems as well as partnerships to ensure the continued success of the Rx to Move Program by removing financial barriers.
A Progress Report will be available in June 2022.
A Final Report will be available in February 2023.
Final outcomes will be shared under “What We’re Learning” after the final report is submitted.