X
GO
Population Health Resources
Strategies for Supporting Health Center Patients Experiencing Food Insecurity

Strategies for Supporting Health Center Patients Experiencing Food Insecurity

Published in May 2021, Updated June 2021

Food insecurity has doubled since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and has tripled among families with children. Not having enough access to food is a key contributor to negative health outcomes for adults and children alike, and it is important now more than ever for health centers to identify and support patients who are experiencing food insecurity.
This resource is designed to support health center efforts to identify and assist patients who are experiencing food insecurity. It outlines key considerations around integrating social determinants of health (SDoH)-related screening and intervention into the electronic health record (EHR) workflow, highlights standardized screening tools and data elements to monitor the prevalence of food insecurity among patients, and describes several strategies to meet food-related needs. 

 

The downloadable guide, available in the Documents to Download section below, is split into the following sections, each of which draws on foundational work from health centers and national partners: 

  • Integrate your screening strategy into your EHR workflow-- several case studies are included
  • Select a standardized tool to identify food insecurity-- several tools with their related EHR integration and workflow considerations are outlined
  • Monitoring food insecurity among patients-- tips about coding and dashboarding are provided
  • Connecting patients to available resources

 

Documents to download

Previous Article Strategies for Securing Buy-In for Implementing a Social Needs Screening Program
Next Article Telehealth Strategies and Resources for Serving Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Print
14990
Intended AudienceHealth Center Clinicians, Health Center Staff

Acknowledgements

This resource collection was cultivated and developed by the HITEQ team with valuable contributions from the National Association of Community Health centers (NACHC) as well as HITEQ's Advisory Committee and many health centers who have graciously shared their experiences with HITEQ.

Can we help?

Looking for something different or have something you think could assist?

HITEQ works to provide top quality resources, but know your needs can be specific. If you are just not finding the right resource or have a highly explicit need then please use the Request a Resource button below so that we can try to better understand your requirements.

If on the other hand you know of a great resource already or have one that you have developed then please get in touch with us by clicking on the Share a Resource button below. We are always on the hunt for tools that can better server Health Centers.

Request a Resource  Share a Resource
Search
Highlighted Resources & Events
Need Assistance?
Would you like more assistance regarding Population Health Management and Social Determinants of Health strategies or support in using any of the included resource sets?

  Request Support

 

Upcoming Events
The Quadruple Aim
Quadruple Aim

A Conceptual Framework

Improving the U.S. health care system requires four aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, reducing per capita costs and improving care team well-being. HITEQ Center resources seek to provide content and direction aligned with the goals of the Quadruple Aim

Learn More