Source: Winter 2019 Editor’s Message by Ed Bope, MD
Fitness and wellness are two concepts that get more attention, and certainly more conversation, today than ever before. Years ago, when people performed more manual labor, such as farm work, and walked more as part of their daily routine, there was less need to talk about and plan for exercise. It was happening naturally. Today, our more sedentary lifestyles make scheduling exercise important. Of course, there is more to fitness than exercise. Wellness includes psychosocial elements, nutrition, and habits. Wellness is also dependent on health status, only some of which we can control.
We are the physicians who consider the whole patient and provide advice over the course of time. Part of our promise of comprehensive care is to notice when our patients are not well or fit, and give them appropriate advice.
In addition, remember that we are role models to our patients, office staff, and communities. Our appearance, habits, and actions are all powerful messages to the population we serve. Winter is a good time to take stock of your personal wellness and fitness and to make any needed modifications. Taking care of yourself will help you take care of others.
I hope you can enjoy reading this issue and find information that inspires your sense of wellness in the following articles:
- Helping Patients Exercise: Motivational Interviewing and Prescriptions
- Your Next Patient is Virtual
- Grow Well with US: Pediatric Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Program
- Exercise is Medicine
Also in this issue, you will find the registration form for the Family Medicine Workshop in January and on the back cover, please take note of the Academy’s additional CME and KSA programming in 2020!
I want to pay a special tribute to Florence Landis who so faithfully served the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians during the early years of our specialty. At one time she manually typed articles for this magazine, personally ensuring that each issue helped our members. Florence died earlier this fall at 99 years of age. She will long be remembered for her personal kindness and never ending commitment to family medicine.
I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.