Chew On This
A simple but powerful idea has been gaining momentum nationwide; when healthy food is part of healthcare, patients get better. Research from the past decade confirms a strong link between nutritious diets and improved health outcomes. That’s why hunger-relief organizations and health care clinics have partnered to provide medically tailored foods to patients with diet-related chronic conditions.
These in-clinic food pantries are called Food Pharmacies.
Growing evidence supports value
A first-ever statewide evaluation finds that Food Pharmacies across Virginia are improving patients’ health outcomes, reducing patient financial strain, and receiving enthusiastic support from clinicians. Clinics in the Blue Ridge area reflect these same positive results in a promising sign for communities throughout the region.
The evaluation was coordinated by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and its member food banks across the state.
“What we learned from this evaluation confirms what we believed to be true since we designed and launched the Food Pharmacy program in 2019: connecting the dots between healthcare and nutritious food is valuable for the patient, the clinician, and the healthcare system’s bottom line,” said the Food Bank’s Director of Community Health and Resources Maria Bowman, MPH.
“We are truly grateful to our Food Pharmacy patients and partners for sharing their experience with us. Thanks to them, we now know what’s working and how we can keep getting better, together.”
Health benefits
Patients across 26 of the 32 partner clinics in our region described their Food Pharmacy as “welcoming, convenient, and life improving”.
They reported greater access to medically tailored foods, better mental health, improved ability to manage chronic conditions, and being better equipped to “control their own health.”
Clinicians echoed patient responses, citing improved patient food security, more nutritious diets, and progress toward biometric goals, like stabilized blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and progress toward weight goals.
On top of that, clinicians also reported reduced burnout, because the program provides them with tools and resources to provide immediate care to patients.
Financial benefits
Most surveyed patients reported that thanks to the food they received through the Food Pharmacy program, they were able to stretch their budget “very much” or “quite a bit”, allowing them to better cover other necessary expenses such as rent, prescriptions, or medical bills.
And thanks to the built-in screening and referral process, many patients reap additional benefits from their visits. Food Pharmacies connect patients to nutrition education, local food pantries, or SNAP application assistance.
In other words, patients receive more than just a bag of medically tailored nutritious food. The Food Pharmacy program empowers patients to take control of their health and have a better chance to find financial stability. Food Pharmacy is a bridge to health and stability.
“Such a wonderful program that helps our patients focus on their health and relieve a little stress financially.”
There’s room for improvement, too
More than a third of patients surveyed reported that “nothing needs to be changed about this food program.”
Some offered feedback aimed at helping to improve the program. Patients, and clinicians too, suggested including more proteins and meats, as well as expanding overall food variety.
Clinicians specifically noted that there was a need for more guidance on best practices around food storage and expanded refrigeration capacity.
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has already acted on this feedback. Nearly $700,000 of this year’s fundraising revenue will be used to purchase more than 400,000 pounds of high-quality, culturally inclusive proteins for distribution to guests. All of it free to our partners, including many Food Pharmacy sites.
"They offer education materials that can help patients know what food fits best for their nutritional needs."
A strong endorsement
Among patients surveyed in the Blue Ridge, 87 percent say they’d highly recommend the program, and among clinicians that support was even higher at 98 percent.
“Our health partners tell us that access to nutritious food has tangible impacts on the physical and mental health of their patients,” Food Bank CEO Kari Diener said. “We also know that people who are food insecure tend to experience higher health care costs than those who are food secure. We see healthy food as a critical building block toward better community health outcomes in our region and nationally.”
Join us
Clinics or clinicians interested in hosting a Food Pharmacy can connect with our Community Health and Resources team. Find details and contact information in our prospective health care brochure. Together, we can ensure that every patient who needs food as part of their care can get it, with dignity and ease.
www.brafb.org/program/food-pharmacy-food-is-medicine/
