Prescriptions for Nature

Alberta healthcare professionals can now write prescriptions for patients to spend time outdoors

At the March BRBC Quarterly Forum, Dr. Sonya Jakubec, Anne Robillard, and Dr. Clark Svrcek made an illuminating presentation on Prescribing Parks for Health and Wellbeing. Nature prescriptions were named one of the top eight global wellness trends in 2019 and are being implemented around the world. The UK and other countries have invested in park prescription pilots to help address mental and physical health problems and the resulting strain on their healthcare systems and economies.

The three presenters were motivated by their families’ and patients’ experiences in nature to bring Canada’s national nature prescription program – PaRx – to Alberta (visit www.parkprescriptions.ca for information). Officially launched in Alberta in late March 2022, PaRx now gives the province’s healthcare professionals the ability to formally prescribe nature to their patients.

Featuring practical, evidence-based online resources like quick prescribing tips and printable fact sheets, as well as an achievable green-time target of “2 hours per week, 20+ minutes each time,” PaRx aims to make nature prescriptions easy and effective for both prescriber and patient. Any licensed healthcare professional can prescribe PaRx. They will also receive a nature prescription file customized with a unique provider code and instructions for how to prescribe and log prescriptions.

As we head into the fall season, now is a great time for healthcare professionals to promote the mental and physical benefits of nature and time spent outdoors. The Alberta WPACs are looking forward to learning more about this initiative as it progresses!