WPHN Congress 2024’s Post

A recent report from The Greater Boston Food Bank found that in 2023, over a third of households in Massachusetts reported facing food insecurity. Access to nutritious food is essential to staying healthy, but this can be particularly challenging for those with significant needs. If left unaddressed, food insecurity and poor diet can lead to chronic illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. At CCA, our Community Health Workers (CHWs) utilize a comprehensive person-centered approach to fully address the social factors that impact someone’s care. Along with assisting with matters like housing needs and transportation, CCA’s CHWs support individuals struggling to access nutritious foods. They are embedded directly into our care teams and work with our clinicians to help members meet their nutritional needs and navigate government programs to break down silos and access the right benefits and resources. As trusted parts of the care team, CHWs are pivotal to our mission of delivering better health outcomes. By integrating food and healthcare, we can improve the health and wellbeing of residents across Massachusetts. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/ekTWZZMm #FoodIsMedicine #HealthEquity

UK children shorter, fatter and sicker… Grim reading in a Food Foundation report (below), rearticulating the oft stated problem that children’s health is declining as a result of a poor diet, poverty and other markers. In the NHS, prevention and deprivation are high on the agenda, but for the youngest the report suggests actions so far have been unsuccessful. At a time of crises in healthcare services we spend a lot of time focusing on areas such as structure, waiting lists and funding, all a necessary part of day-to-day firefighting. But these efforts seem pyrrhic if the next generation is fated to enjoy worst healthcare outcomes because their diet and other life factors are deficient. What to do about it? Good advice and intentions on the subject are in abundant supply, but there seems to be no solution that is palatable to the public (or politicians). Why might it be that it is so difficult to change people’s behaviour? Perhaps it is because people exercise choice, and for many of us this often equates to the 'nicest' option, not the ‘healthiest’. It’s a classic of evolutionary biology that many of the things we now regard as vices were once of paramount importance. Happy examples include energy conservation (e.g., laziness), energy acquisition (e.g., eating more than we need to survive), and avoidance of risk (e.g., watching people do sport rather than doing it ourselves). If this is true, then advocates of a ‘healthy lifestyle’ face a tireless opponent. Persuading people to get out in the evening to run or cycle, less so to watch Goggle Box, is the real challenge. This is not to decry attempts to improve health, but to state the simple truths that stand in the way of any wholesale restructuring of diet and activity away from what has become the contented norm. The official advice on the subject is also contradictory – regular exercise is a DHSC recommendation when it comes to weight reduction, but the cross-departmental national food strategy concluded that exercise can be thwarted by our natural tendency to conserve energy (apparently, active women in rural Nigeria have similar calorie expenditure to women in Chicago). ‘National food strategy for England’ published in July 2020 ('You can’t outrun a bad diet’). The problem is very well articulated by the Food Foundation report. However, in the absence of a significant lifestyle or dietary change, we are still in a situation where we are treating the symptoms of the problem, rather than preventing it. We like to talk about radical change, but as we learn from the strategies and attempts to change behaviour so far, it is very difficult to achieve this in practice without compulsion (and how far are people willing to be compelled?). https://lnkd.in/eDEpmkRQ

Food for Thought: Insights from Deepak Palakshappa's Decade-Long Research 💬 As Americans gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, a time traditionally centered around food and abundance, it's sobering to realize that the reality is quite different for many. According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of people struggling to feed their families has risen sharply, with 44.2 million Americans facing food insecurity, an increase from 33.8 million just last year. Sadly, food insecurity isn’t anything new and this problem is something Deepak Palakshappa, MD, MSHP, associate professor of general internal medicine, has researched for more than ten years. Palakshappa’s research focuses on improving the health outcomes of populations that have been socially and economically disadvantaged, specifically by addressing food insecurity and other social determinants of health. Treating patients of all ages has given Palakshappa a unique perspective on improving the health of low-income families through innovative tools and population-based approaches to achieve health equity. 🔗Read the full interview. https://brnw.ch/21wEBFV

🍏💡 Big Moves Towards a Healthier Future: $1.7B Pledged! 🍏💡 Exciting news for everyone invested in a healthier lifestyle! 🌟 The Biden administration has rallied an impressive coalition, securing over 140 commitments totaling nearly $1.7 billion to fight hunger and tackle diet-related diseases by 2030. Spearheaded by organizations from health insurers to local governments, this initiative marks a significant step forward in public health and nutrition. A standout contribution comes from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, introducing nutritious food deliveries and nutrition coaching as part of their standard member benefits. 🥗📚 This massive push towards enhancing health and nutrition accessibility is not just a win for current efforts but a foundation for future generations to lead healthier lives. Let’s support and follow these transformative initiatives for a healthier tomorrow! #foodandnutrition For health-conscious individuals, families, and business professionals dedicated to making a difference.

We’ve seen how a lack of access to nutritious food impact the health and wellbeing of our clients. We were extremely encouraged that the draft 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver from DC’s Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) includes a request to expand coverage for nutrition services. The proposal recognizes the prevalence of hunger in our community and the connection between a lack of food access and increased risks for many chronic health conditions. The inclusion of nutrition supports in the District’s draft demonstration waiver represents an exciting opportunity to scale a variety of programs across our community that increase access to healthy food. Nutrition services, like the groceries and nutrition supports provided through our food pharmacy at Children’s National Hospital, have the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. We look forward to working with DHCF, community stakeholders and managed care organizations to shape the Medicaid nutrition supports covered under the waiver to deliver the greatest impact for our community. #foodismedicine #foodinsecurity #nutritioninsecurity #FoodPlusHealth #1115 #foodpharmacy

🌟 Innovative Healthcare Initiative: Prescribing Fresh Food! 🍏🥦 🌟 The NHS is tackling obesity and high blood pressure in low-income households with an innovative initiative prescribing fresh fruits and vegetables. Piloted in London's Tower Hamlets and Lambeth, this program provides vouchers worth up to £8 per week to patients living in poverty with chronic diseases and mental health conditions. After eight months, 90% of participants reported improved physical health, and GP visits among the group nearly halved. 💚 ✨ Results Speak Volumes - Before the project, only 28% consumed the recommended five portions of fruit and veg daily. This soared to 80% post-vouchers. - 70% of participants with high blood pressure saw improvements. - Over half reported better mental health, with reduced financial stress over food cited as a key factor. 🌟 Led by Alexandra Rose Charity, this project highlights the positive impact of reducing financial barriers to healthy eating. The charity is urging the government to expand the fruit and vegetable prescription program nationwide and support the three-year 'Community Eatwell' initiative. This approach could alleviate food-related health issues, which cost the UK £98 billion annually, by improving diets and boosting local food economies. Could this be the future of healthcare? Let's discuss! 🍎💬 Check out the blog 👇 https://buff.ly/3KIS6rB #HealthyLiving #NHSInnovations #CommunityHealth

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that more than one in 10 #Michigan households can’t adequately feed someone in their home. When people don’t have access to enough nutritious food, they can be at an even higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes, and heart and lung disease. At CCA Health Michigan, our nurses and community health workers are working to address this issue by identifying members at risk for food insecurity and other social factors that impact health. They are then able to connect those members with community resources, such as Meals on Wheels, to help. Morgan Buchko, Vice President of Market Partnership Strategy and Performance at CCA Health Michigan is sharing more ways healthcare organizations can address this problem in the Michigan Chronicle: https://lnkd.in/dvNF73sD #CCAHealthMI #FoodInsecurity

Healthier patients have better outcomes, including healthcare associated infections (HAIs). So I’m thrilled to share that @Ascension has joined the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities by 2030! As part of our commitment, we're gearing up to launch some game-changing initiatives to make a real difference in people's lives.  Stay tuned as we prepare to: 1️⃣ Launch the Maternal Health Social Systems Initiative in five new sites to reduce disparities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.   2️⃣ Double our emergency food pantry capacity and establish a brand-new site in New Orleans, ensuring greater access to nutritious food for those in need.   3️⃣ Address nutritional gaps for mothers and babies in extreme poverty over the next decade, because every family deserves a healthy start.  4️⃣ Implement the Ascension Market, promoting healthy habits and providing access to nutritious food options for our associates.   5️⃣ Expand Social Determinant of Health (SDoH) screenings, training, and data capabilities. Together, we're committed to building healthier communities and making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Read more here https://lnkd.in/g-TVKSGz  #EndHunger #HealthyCommunities #AscensionImpact

Challenge Accepted! I’m thrilled to share that @Ascension has joined the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities by 2030! As part of our commitment, we're gearing up to launch some game-changing initiatives to make a real difference in people's lives.  Stay tuned as we prepare to: 1️⃣ Launch the Maternal Health Social Systems Initiative in five new sites to reduce disparities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.   2️⃣ Double our emergency food pantry capacity and establish a brand-new site in New Orleans, ensuring greater access to nutritious food for those in need.   3️⃣ Address nutritional gaps for mothers and babies in extreme poverty over the next decade, because every family deserves a healthy start.  4️⃣ Implement the Ascension Market, promoting healthy habits and providing access to nutritious food options for our associates.   5️⃣ Expand Social Determinant of Health (SDoH) screenings, training, and data capabilities. Together, we're committed to building healthier communities and making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Read more here https://lnkd.in/gK8G7XZQ  #EndHunger #HealthyCommunities #AscensionImpact