Penn Medicine Lancaster is Combatting Food Insecurity in Lancaster County

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COMBATTING FOOD INSECURITY IN LANCASTER COUNTY

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s Food Farmacy Program Educates, Provides Access to Nutritious Foods, and Empowers Patients to Improve Health

Food and nutrition play an important role in sustaining health, preventing disease, and as a therapy for people with conditions or in situations that respond to dietary changes.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s Food Farmacy program aims to decrease food insecurity — or the lack of access to enough food to live an active and healthy life — and improve nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in Lancaster County patients. The program works closely with local food pantries as well as patients’ health-care providers.

The Food Farmacy integrates access to healthy food and nutrition education into the overall care plan for patients with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, diabetes, or other nutrition-related conditions. Patients meet regularly with an LG Health registered dietitian at a local food pantry, where they receive nutrition counseling and “shop” for healthy food for themselves and their families.

“Our goal is to help patients implement healthy diet and lifestyle changes to improve their overall health and prevent chronic disease, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer,” said program manager Laura Rodgers, MS, RD, LDN. “Many of our patients have seen very promising results, including weight loss and reductions in body mass index and blood pressure.”

Elizabeth Doherty, MD, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Physicians Family Medicine Buck, often talks with her patients about changes they can make to their diet or habits to help improve their health. Even so, she said, many patients don’t know exactly where to start, and some are unable to access or afford healthy food, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, or foods that are low in sodium.

“Most changes like this require more follow-up and discussion than we can usually provide to our patients in a routine office visit,” she said. “Being able to work one-on-one with someone who can spend time with them, and have that linked to providing healthy food, is really powerful.”

The number of Americans experiencing food insecurity was declining for over a decade before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that number is now rising and projected to reach 10.2 percent this year, according to Feeding America. While there are many food assistance organizations in Lancaster County, food security is about more than just having enough food, Rodgers said. People also need access to healthy foods that support their individual dietary needs.

The Food Farmacy is one component of LG Health’s larger Food is Medicine community benefit initiative, which aims to address barriers to healthy eating in Lancaster County, particularly for low-income, food-insecure individuals and families. In 2019, LG Health launched a two-year pilot of the Food Farmacy in collaboration with three existing food pantries in Lancaster City, Paradise, and Quarryville.

The Food Farmacy proved to be a success during the pilot period, with overwhelmingly positive responses from patients, medical providers, and food pantry partners, Rodgers said. Locations are now planned for Columbia, Elizabethtown, and Lebanon, along with the hiring of additional registered dietitians.

Patients meet with their registered dietitian regularly, at no cost to the patient. Promising results from the pilot included weight loss and a lower body mass index in 88 percent of patients and a lower waist circumference in 94 percent of patients. In addition, 69 percent of patients improved their blood pressure, and 75 percent improved their HDL cholesterol. In post-program surveys, a large majority of patients reported their intentions to eat a healthier diet, as well as increased nutrition knowledge and confidence in the kitchen.

Rodgers has witnessed both large and small successes in her patients. One woman lost 35 pounds and 8.5 inches off her waist. Another began encouraging her granddaughter to eat healthy snacks, such as rice cakes with peanut butter, and go on walks with her.

Doherty said the greatest benefit she has seen in her patients who have utilized the Food Farmacy is a newfound sense of empowerment over their own health.

“Working with the Food Farmacy seems to leave them with knowledge about what choices they can make to help improve their health and access to resources that make those choices possible,” she said.

The Food Farmacy integrates access to healthy food and nutrition education into the overall care plan for patients with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, diabetes, or other nutrition-related conditions.