For many conditions, from high blood pressure and diabetes to colon cancer and arthritis, eating healthier can be just what the doctor ordered for improving symptoms and prognosis. Yet not everyone has ready or affordable access to healthy food, or the knowledge to make healthy choices. In Lancaster County, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s Food Farmacy program is filling that gap to help patients improve their health.
See more in the Penn Medicine News BlogThe Food Farmacy program connects patients with dietitians for individual consultations. Taking place in food pantries, these sessions provide real-world, in-person education as well as no-cost access to foods that nourish patients and their families. Physicians can recommend the program to patients and coordinate care with participating dietitians.
It’s just one component of Food Is Medicine, LG Health’s initiative to help remove barriers to healthy nutrition for people experiencing food insecurity. The two-year pilot proved so successful, especially in clinical metrics and qualitative surveys, that it will soon be expanded to more Lancaster County locations.