Let’s think about some laws and public policies that we need to know about.  Also, what can we learn from other countries?

Privacy and Security

Consider security and trustworthiness issues?

January 11-12, 2020: “Google Will See You Now” with subtitle “The search giant has been pushing into health care, gaining access to millions of patient records.  Its challenge:  convincing the public that it can be trusted with our most personal information,” Rob Copeland, Dana Mattioli and Melanie Evans, The Wall Street Journal, B1, B6.

Other Countries

January 10, 2020:  “Healthy Look at Cost Disparity” with subtitle “Study:  US health system costs four times more to run than Canadian way,” Melissa Healy, Chicago Tribune, 3.

5-11-19: “Doctor’s Orders: Take 2 Bike Rides, Free,” Palko Karasz, The New York TImes, A11:

Britain introduced an exercise prescription framework in 2001 allowing doctors and nurses to refer patients for supervised physical activity at centers and gyms.

A new pilot program in Wales will allow family doctors to prescribe bicycles to patients. Patients at two medical centers in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, will be offered six-month subscription to a bike rental service that allows them to make unlimited free rides up to 30 minutes at a time.

The Cardiff program follows a similar effort in Boston where in 2014 the city made it possible for doctors to prescribe bikes to low-income patients. The company, Nextbike, provides rentals in many other European cities. Nextbike participated in a program called “By Bike to Work” which allowed people to claim prizes from their health insurance providers if they cycled to work.

A new course at Loughborough University in England was created to educate exercise scientists, with the goal of getting them the accreditation necessary to issue prescription within British National Health Service.

In 2018 the National Health Service recorded 711,000 hospital admissions related to obesity in England. This was a 15% increase compared to the year before.

The British government recommended at least 2.5 hours of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity spread across the week. The National Health Service reported that more than 20% of men and women in England were classified as inactive, meaning they were engaged in less exercise last year than the minimum amount recommended.

A family doctor participating in the Cardiff program stated she hoped prescriptions would encourage people to have a go at cycling around Cardiff and realize how the activity can support their well-being.