1 minute read
Food RxPrograms Let's Work Together
by coolmgt
WHY FOOD PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS?
According to Penn LDI, many patients have health conditions caused or exacerbated by the insufficient intake of certain foods, like fresh vegetables and fruits. Providing a "prescription" for food can not only benefit patients, but also reduce healthcare costs and increase medical training. Healthy food is not a luxury, it is for ALL.
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WHAT ARE THE MODELS?
The most common model of food-as-medicine services provides vouchers to patients to fill "prescriptions" for fresh fruit, vegetables, and other foods at neighborhood corner stores, supermarkets, community gardens, food pantries, farmers’ markets, and other food distribution venues. Foodas-medicine programs are not the same as the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps), or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs These are often local and grant funded programs that work with many community partnerships in order to help fill in local gaps for food insecurity and provide wrap around services for intervention.
Why Invest In Programming
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ROI to Reduce Immediate Healthcare Costs
Food Rx Programs have a high short-term return on investment with the oldest and most medically-complex population that show these food interventions make a difference
ROI to Intervene Before Disease to Reduce Future Costs
Intervention with children or at-risk populations are needed in order to make sure they develop a palate and eating habits for healthy foods
Stop the Silos of Services
With critical access points, programs can provide wrap around community services in one central location. For example, sign up for food benefits, meet with a senior resource specialist or connect with an onsite nurse or doctor.
Support Training and Education
Food Rx Programs can support the additional training for nursing and medical students to identify food insecurity, understand more about the role diet plays in health and also leverage the access with patients to combine clinical work in the field.
