Clinical-Community Partnerships to Identify Patients With Food Insecurity and Address Food Needs

Abstract

IntroductionMore than 42 million people in the United States are food insecure. Although some health care entities are addressing food insecurity among patients because of associations with disease risk and management, little is known about the components of these initiatives.MethodsThe Systematic Screening and Assessment Method was used to conduct a landscape assessment of US health care entity–based programs that screen patients for food insecurity and connect them with food resources. A network of food insecurity researchers, experts, and practitioners identified 57 programs, 22 of which met the inclusion criteria of being health care entities that 1) screen patients for food insecurity, 2) link patients to food resources, and 3) target patients including adults aged 50 years or older (a focus of this assessment). Data on key features of each program were abstracted from documentation and telephone interviews.ResultsMost programs (n = 13) focus on patients with chronic disease, and most (n = 12) partner with food banks. Common interventions include referrals to or a list of food resources (n = 19), case managers who navigate patients to resources (n = 15), assistance with federal benefit applications (n = 14), patient education and skill building (n = 13), and distribution of fruit and vegetable vouchers redeemable at farmers markets (n = 8). Most programs (n = 14) routinely screen all patients.ConclusionThe programs reviewed use various strategies to screen patients, including older adults, for food insecurity and to connect them to food resources. Research is needed on program effectiveness in improving patient outcomes. Such evidence can be used to inform the investments of potential stakeholders, including health care entities, community organizations, and insurers.

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Understanding and addressing social determinants to advance cancer health equity in the United States: A blueprint for practice, research, and policy

“…Efforts are increasing to address individuals' social needs as a strategy to address social determinants, although these approaches only indirectly address structural issues. [43][44][45][46] For example, some schools provide breakfast to address the social need for healthy food among individual students. However, to sufficiently address the affordability of healthy foods at the population level, social determinants such as food deserts must be addressed.…”

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