GNYHA will hold a Social Determinants of Health Learning Series event on April 26 on addressing food insecurity and food access. Increasing evidence reveals that the lack of consistent access to food or healthy food contributes to poor nutrition and poor health outcomes. In the context of delivery system transformation and payment reform, hospitals and health systems are implementing assessments, interventions, and partnerships to ensure that patients have access to the quantity and quality of food they need to manage chronic conditions and avoid unnecessary admissions or readmissions.
This event will highlight hospital/community-based organization (CBO) partnerships and programs that have helped individuals meet basic food-related needs as part of broader population health initiatives.
Presenters will include:
- Kim Prendergast, Community Health and Nutrition Consultant, Feeding America, a national nonprofit hunger-relief organization. Ms. Prendergast will review the concept of food insecurity and discuss the experiences of food banks and other emergency food providers in partnering with health care providers to address food-related needs. She will also discuss Feeding America’s research and programs within the organization’s Health + Hunger initiative.
- Francesca Gany, MD, Chief of Service, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Gany will detail the Food to Overcome Outcome Disparities (FOOD) program, which was developed in partnership with community-based food and nutrition providers. The program has distributed healthy food to more than 2,400 New York City patients.
- Zach Hennessey, Vice President of Programs and Services, Public Health Solutions. Mr. Hennessey and partners from NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, God’s Love We Deliver, and HealthFirst will present the Food and Nutrition Services Bundle, which coordinates food and nutrition services through a single intake system and provides a communication platform for service partners.