How Exercise is Medicine helps healthcare systems implement physical activity programs through policy changes and guidelines for activity assessments

What if every clinic treated movement as a medicine? Not as a “nice-to-have” add-on, but as a core part of how care gets done. That’s the promise behind Exercise is Medicine (EIM). It’s not about one great gym visit or a single brochure. It’s about shaping how healthcare teams operate, so asking a patient about activity becomes as routine as checking blood pressure. So, how does EIM actually support healthcare systems in putting physical activity into the day-to-day flow? The answer is simple—and powerful: by promoting policy changes and guidelines for activity assessments.

Let me explain why that matters and what it looks like in the real world.

Why policy changes and guidelines matter more than clever flyers

Or to put it plainly: the best intentions don’t move mountains if there’s no system to back them up. Clinicians are busy. They need clear, repeatable steps that fit into the rhythm of a busy day. That’s where EIM’s emphasis on policy changes and guidelines comes in. It’s not a gotcha mandate; it’s a framework that says, in effect, “This is how we ask about activity, this is how we document it, and this is what we do next.” When every member of the care team uses the same approach, patients receive a consistent message and a smoother path to action.

Think of it as giving the care team a compass and a map. The compass points them toward movement as essential care. The map shows the routes—screening, counseling, referral, follow-up—so no one’s guessing what to do next.

What the policies and guidelines look like in practice

Here’s a practical snapshot of how these policies and guidelines come to life in healthcare settings:

• Standardized activity screening: Rather than a one-off question about “Are you active?” clinics adopt a small, reliable set of questions—often called an activity or physical activity screening tool. It’s quick, and it’s designed to fit into the patient intake or annual visit without slowing things down.

• Activity as a vital sign: Some teams treat physical activity as a core health indicator, alongside blood pressure and heart rate. When activity is tracked with the same seriousness as other vital signs, it signals to everyone that movement is essential to health.

• Clear documentation in the electronic record: The team uses a consistent place to record activity levels, goals, and progress. That makes it easier for any clinician who sees the patient to pick up where the last person left off, rather than starting from scratch.

• Brief, effective counseling scripts: Providers aren’t asked to become fitness coaches overnight. They receive concise, proven talking points to encourage patients—think quick, practical advice that fits into a 2–3 minute conversation.

• Referral pathways to community or in-house programs: If a patient needs more support, there’s a dependable route—whether it’s a walking group, a supervised exercise class, or a referral to a health coach. The key is having a ready-made option and a simple handoff.

• Training and team-based approaches: Nurses, physicians, medical assistants, physical therapists, and health coaches all know their roles. Training helps the whole team feel confident in talking about activity and guiding patients toward options that fit their lives.

• Metrics and feedback loops: Systems track how often activity is assessed, how often patients receive counseling, and how many are referred to programs. The data isn’t about shaming—it’s about learning what works, what to tweak, and how to celebrate wins.

• Patient-centered pathways: The guidelines encourage tailoring messages and referrals to each patient’s context—age, culture, budget, transportation, time—so movement feels doable, not daunting.

A concrete example that sticks

Let’s picture a mid-sized clinic in a busy neighborhood. The leadership adopts a policy that every patient gets a quick activity screen during check-in. If a patient isn’t meeting activity guidelines, a nurse or health coach uses a short counseling script and offers a referral to a community walking group that meets twice weekly near the clinic. The clinician documents this in the same place they note vitals, so the patient’s progress is visible at every visit. Over months, staff notice more patients getting moving, fewer visits for sedentary-related issues, and a growing sense of teamwork around movement as care.

This isn’t magic. It’s a deliberate shift in how the clinic organizes care. The policy piece is the scaffolding; the guidelines give people a shared playbook. And because the system supports it, patients are more likely to follow through. They’re not being told to “try harder.” They’re being offered a practical plan that fits their life.

How this approach benefits the entire healthcare system

You might be wondering: does this actually save time or money? The short answer is yes, in the long run, when done well. Here’s why:

• Streamlined workflows: When the first contact point has a clear screen and a simple patient path, everyone saves time. Clinicians spend less time reinventing the wheel for each patient, and care becomes more predictable.

• Better alignment across teams: Health coaches, nurses, physicians, and therapists pull in the same direction. That coherence builds confidence among staff and fosters a culture that values movement as part of health care.

• Improved patient outcomes: Regularly addressing activity can help prevent chronic diseases and reduce risk factors. Patients feel more capable of taking small, sustainable steps rather than chasing heroic, unrealistic goals.

• Cost considerations: While there’s an upfront effort to implement screenings, training, and referrals, the downstream costs—hospital admissions, chronic disease management, and long sick days—often come down as activity gets embedded in care.

• Community connections: Linking patients with community resources not only supports their health but also helps local programs grow and improve. It’s a win-win that strengthens the fabric of the neighborhood.

A quick note on the potential confusion around “policy” vs “mandate”

Sometimes people worry that policy changes might feel heavy-handed or rigid. The aim here isn’t to coerce patients into exercise. Instead, it’s to normalize talking about movement as part of health care and to create easy, respectful paths to action. The ultimate goal is what many public health advocates dream of: a care environment where staff know how to guide a patient toward movement that fits their life, and patients feel supported rather than judged.

Putting it all together: a patient journey that respects rhythm and reality

Let me sketch a simple journey you’ll recognize in clinics that embrace these ideas:

• At the front desk: A quick, friendly screen asks about activity. The response is logged in the chart as a standard part of care.

• In the examination room: The clinician reviews the screen, confirms a plan, and shares a couple of practical options. The message is clear and doable.

• The referral moment: If needed, a referral to a community program or in-house resource is made with a single click, and the patient gets a confirmatory note with details and next steps.

• Follow-up: A reminder or check-in occurs at the next visit or through a patient portal. Progress is tracked, and plans are adjusted as life changes.

• The broader impact: The clinic’s data show trends—more patients moving, fewer sedentary-related issues, better patient satisfaction. The system learns and adapts.

Keeping the human touch in a system-focused world

I’m keeping the tone here a bit practical because, at the end of the day, you’re studying something that’s meant to be applied, not just understood. But the human touch matters. Even with policies and guidelines, the best outcomes come when clinicians speak with empathy, when patients feel heard, and when movement is framed as a medicine that respects their realities—time constraints, family duties, cultural beliefs, and personal preferences.

If you’re exploring EIM’s role in health systems, here are a few takeaways to hold onto:

• The backbone is policy and guidelines: They shape how care teams ask about activity, how they document it, and what pathways exist for support.

• Tools matter, but so do conversations: A well-designed screen is useful, but it’s the follow-through—the coaching, the referrals, the support—that makes a difference.

• Real-world practice is collaborative: Nurses, physicians, health coaches, and community partners all have a piece of the puzzle. When they work with shared goals, patients feel guided rather than pushed.

• Results come with time and iteration: Expect to test, learn, and refine. The metrics are there to help you see what’s working and where to tweak.

A closing thought

EIM’s approach—that policy changes and guidelines for activity assessments can systematize movement as a core piece of care—has staying power because it’s practical and humane. It’s about creating a healthcare environment where asking about activity isn’t a special moment, but a normal part of every patient encounter. In that world, physical activity becomes more than a recommendation; it’s a dependable, repeatable part of healing and prevention.

If you’re crossing the threshold into studying this field, you’ll notice the same pattern again and again: solid frameworks, clear steps, and a shared language that helps teams act together. And as you read more about EIM, you’ll likely find that the most meaningful advances aren’t the shiny new tools alone, but the everyday routines they enable—where movement is welcomed as medicine, and every patient has a practical path to it. That’s the heart of how EIM supports healthcare systems in making physical activity a natural and lasting part of care.