Continuing the Walking Revolution – Dialogue at the APMA

Walking Programs – Kaiser Permanente – at the APMA National 2013

I was asked (and accepted the offer) to talk about walking programs at Kaiser Permanente at the 2013 American Podiatric Medical Association (@APMAtweets) this year, in the Public Health track.

This was definitely the right track for me, since this is the place where people talk about taking care of the whole person, mind, body, spirit, individual, family, community society.

I actually prefer smallish audiences over biggish ones, especially when I’m curious, so I can learn as much as I teach. In the sprit of no sitting, we did standing introductions, where everyone told the group what they did and three words describing their passion for public health, in this physician and surgeon group.

My favorite, or should I say, most memorable words provided by an attendee were “Listen to your patients, Listen to your patients, Listen to your patients.” Perfect foreshadowing for tomorrow’s #patientchat (see: How To Be An Empowered Patient: A USNewsHealthTwitter Chat – US News and World Report | Ted Eytan, MD)

Making Walking Meetings the Default

The images I used to create excitement about walking are below. I also showed for the first time what we’ve done to create walking as the default – changing our calendaring system to include “walking meeting” as a bookable room. Check it out!

But wait! This blog is about what I learn every day. What I learned is that there are many many more physicians and specialists that are willing to help be community leaders in producing health in our communities. There is a lot that goes into creating a successful walking program, including walking safely when it comes to the environment, as well as when it comes to our bodies. I’d love to do a walk with a doc with a podiatrist. Who’s willing to do one with me in Washington, DC?

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Ted Eytan, MD