Va. (WSET) —U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a new initiative Wednesday aimed at helping community health centers prioritize Healthy Lifestyle Commitment during a visit to Piedmont Access to Health Services, known as PATHS, in Chatham. HRSA Administrator Tom Engels and U.S. Rep. John McGuire also attended the event.
The initiative encourages health centers nationwide to incorporate healthy habits into everyday patient care, with an emphasis on preventing chronic diseases before they develop.
Under the commitment, health centers are encouraged to help patients make healthier food choices, stay physically active, get adequate sleep and access preventive care. They can also connect patients and families with nutrition education, fresh produce programs and community gardens.
Engels said health centers are well-positioned to implement the initiative because of their relationships with the patients they serve.
“This will actually be something that we can monitor. We can check on it. Health centers want to do this because they know their patients,” Engels said.
The initiative builds on the role community health centers play in providing care and supporting rural economies. In addition to serving patients, the centers provide jobs and contribute to the communities where they operate.
Access to health care remains a concern in rural communities, where health centers can serve as an important
Participation in the Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment is voluntary and does not establish new federal requirements or standards of care. According to HHS, a health center’s decision to participate will not affect its eligibility for or receipt of funding from the Health Re
HHS also plans to provide participating centers with nutrition education materials, tools for patients and providers, and guidance to support conversations about <a s coronation4
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