| This paper presents the emerging field of the effect on health of various aspects of the built environment and the new link between the worlds of planning and public health. A need was identified to translate current theory and process in the field for practicing primary care physicians to the end that they may choose to adapt a more "upstream" approach to preventive medicine principles in their patients' lives. This paper serves as the oeuvre for a CME presentation the author can then give to interested and appropriate groups of healthcare professionals. Introduction to the field is accomplished via presentation of current literature and the on-going work being accomplished by particular individuals in the various, related disciplines. Careful attention is given to empirically-based work objectively defining healthy design. Finally, practical and specific suggestions are made for how the physician may enter the healthy-by-design nexus. |
