Long Island Jewish Valley Stream (N.Y.) hospital, part of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, partnered with community organizations to open access to nutritious, affordable food for hundreds of patients, Newsday reports.
One in 10 Long Islanders struggle with food insecurity, said Randi Shubin Dresner, president of Island Harvest, a Long Island-based hunger relief organization collaborating with the hospital.
Food insecurity is associated higher hospital readmission rates and other health complications, said Ram Raju, MD, a Northwell Health physician who helped develop the program.
The hospital's "Food as Health" program aims to improve the health of patients who have a nutrition-related diagnosis by helping them access the food needed best treat their disease.
Hospital staff will now screen patients with nutrition-related diseases, asking them about their access to food, hospitals officials said. Patients with poor access will be referred to the nutrition staff at the hospital's Food as Health Center.
At no cost to the patients, Island Harvest dietitians will teach them to tailor their diets to their condition and direct them to community resources to help them access food, said Nancy Copperman, vice president of community health for Northwell Health.
Eligible patients also can get diet-specific food delivered to their homes from a mobile food pantry working with the hospital, Dr. Raju said.
The pilot program has treated 20 patients since its soft opening two weeks ago, and officials want to increase that number to 20 patients each day, Ms. Shubin Dresner said.
Bay Shore, N.Y.-based Southside Hospital is the next Northwell facility scheduled to start the program. Officials aim to expand the program to Northwell's 23 hospitals.