How Independence Health System aims to support healthy eating in Butler County
Butler Memorial Hospital, which is part of the new Independence Health System, is privileged to be a healing presence in the community. We exist to make a positive difference in people’s lives by providing compassionate, high-quality care and comfort, while inspiring health and well-being.
In 2019, the Community Needs Assessment identified access to adequate food and health education as a significant gap in Butler County. The COVID-19 pandemic and current economic conditions have made food insecurities and health conditions worse.
Access to foods that support healthy eating patterns contribute to an individual’s health throughout their life span. Evidence shows that food insecurity and poor nutrition are risk factors for many diet related diseases, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. In addition to chronic conditions being strongly associated with food insecurity, it also correlates with higher health care spending.
As a result, Butler Memorial Hospital opened the Food Institute in April 2021 with a mission to build healthier communities by addressing food insecurity and to give everyone a resource to stay healthy by learning about and eating healthy foods. The Food Institute decreases health disparities by providing healthy food shares, basic nutrition education, referrals to disease-specific lifestyle coaching classes, and a connection to community resources to address other patient identified social determinants of health needs.
Patients are referred through the health system’s physician network, including cardiology, endocrinology and primary care. They are asked hunger vital sign questions at each physician appointment. A referral is created if the patient answers “yes” to any of the questions.
Patients are then eligible to visit the Food Institute once per month for 6 months. Upon referral, patients complete an intake form to identify their food security concerns, assess their personal environment as it relates to their ability to cook and store food, dietary concerns such as allergies and special diets, and other social determinants of health needs.
Patient needs, such as transportation or access to cooking utensils, are addressed as part of the intake to reduce barriers so that patients have the required resources to fully participate and complete the program.
During each monthly visit, the patient meets with a Food Institute staff member to receive food shares, recipes and nutritional education on the following topics: My Plate, food safety, label reading, reducing added sugars, choosing healthy fats, reducing sodium, menu planning and shopping on a budget. They receive ingredients and recipes for 10 monthly meals that feed a family of four. Each recipe has a cost analysis, and our average cost is about $1.50 per serving.
Recipe cost analysis and education on the sustainability of healthy eating is an important educational focus of the program. After patients graduate from the 6-month program, they are enrolled in ongoing monthly graduate classes. The graduate class includes a nutrition lesson, cooking demo, a copy of the recipe, and ingredients to take home. This is also an opportunity to check in with patients and provide additional support as needed.
The program also screens patients and refers them to disease management lifestyle education classes free of charge.
There are several evidence-based disease management educational opportunities within our lifestyle coaching program: four-week diabetes class series based on the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists 7 Self-Care Behaviors to Manage Diabetes; several heart and brain health classes, including Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 and Mediterranean Lifestyle; and our 12 week ongoing weight management video on demand program with support groups.
The lifestyle coaching programs are offered in person, virtually, and as video on demand.
At the start of October, the Butler Food Institute has received 700 referrals and has documented positive health outcomes from participation in the program.
While hospital leadership has supported this vital mission, the program also relies on philanthropy and grant funding.
To support this mission, please visit www.butlerhealthsystem.org/services/food-institute.
Patti Cipolla-Kuniak, RD, LDN lifestyle coaching program manager at Independence Health System and Kathy Selvaggi, MS, MD FAAHPM, is chief community health officer at Independence Health System
