FOOD INSECURITY
up every available cart, ready to move 2,400 lbs. of food up to the
fourth floor. There, the food is divided and packed into more than
500 bags to be given to patients over the next month. With Prescrip-
tive Pantry, patients are screened for food security at each medical
and dental visit. “We require the health care team to ask just two
questions to their patients,” explains Annette Ball, Chief Programs
Officer with Dare to Care. “They ask, ‘Have you run out of food in
the last 12 months?’ and ‘Have you feared running out of food in
the last 12 months?’ If the patient says ‘yes’ to either question, the
staff offer them a bag of non-perishable, healthy food items.”
“This program revealed
just how many of our
patients struggle to
feed their families.”
FHC offers the Prescriptive Pantry program at four locations:
FHC-Portland, FHC-East Broadway, FHC-Iroquois and FHC-
Fairdale. Before the first delivery arrived, FHC had to develop
systems to scale the program for a large patient population. This
included finding adequate storage space, adding the screening
questions into the electronic medical record and educating staff
about the program. FHC also created handouts listing Dare to Care
resources near each location.
FHC medical and dental providers have conversations with
patients every day who struggle with food security and find it very
difficult to find and afford the low fat, low-sodium foods and fresh
produce which would have a positive impact on their health. Even
so, the immediate demand for food resources shocked FHC’s staff.
“We ran out of food 24 hours after the program started,” said Bill
Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of FHC. “This program revealed
just how many of our patients struggle to feed their families.” Nine
months later, FHC has distributed over 45,000 pounds of food to
5,500 patients and families.
information come from trusted members of their health care team,
which can help people feel at ease,” said Ball. A recent patient was
surprised and grateful to be offered food at her women’s health
appointment. She shared with her nurse that she was currently
homeless and living in her car, that she had no money or food, and
was trying to find a job. “This food is a blessing,” the patient said.
In addition, the program is enabling providers to have more
productive and inspired conversations with patients about how
healthy food choices can directly impact their health, especially for
diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, which are FHC’s most
common diagnoses for adult patients. “It’s very difficult to ask a
patient to eat better, when you know they are very likely going home
to bare cabinets,” stated Dr. James Jackson, Chief Medical Officer
of FHC. “To be able to give patients the kinds of food they should
be eating – like low-sodium canned vegetables, brown rice, canned
tuna, and fruit in water that are in the Dare to Care bags – changes
the conversation we have with our patients.”
Finally, the Prescriptive Pantry program strengthens families by
reducing stress. Receiving food items at a medical visit may allow
patients to spend the limited resources they have on a needed med-
ication or to pay another bill. “Providing food to families who have
food insecurity immediately meets a need that can have long-lasting
effects if unaddressed,” stated Dr. Julia Mitchell, a FHC pediatric
provider. “Persistent hunger and malnutrition can negatively affect
children’s growth, brain development and school performance. By
providing food and connecting families to other resources, we can
help buffer any negative long-term health risks.”
Dare to Care is in the process of applying for grant funding to
support the Prescriptive Pantry program at FHC and other loca-
tions.
Melissa Mather, MPH, is the Director of Communications for Family
Health Centers.
Kristin Munro-Leighton, MPH, is the Health Education Coordinator for
Family Health Centers.
The Prescriptive Pantry program has allowed FHC to provide
immediate and concrete support to thousands of patients with
food insecurity, and to link patients to local food resources. “Food
is a touchy subject, and many people are hesitant to be open about
their needs. But, with Prescriptive Pantry, the question and the
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