CLEVELAND — Your well-being depends on your food, environment, job, and available resources.
Since 2014, MetroHealth has been focused on population health, trying to fix the root causes of problems that impact the community's health.
If you can prevent or minimize health issues, it improves outcomes, efficiency and lowers cost, which benefits all of us.
That’s why MetroHealth created the Institute of HOPE: Health, Opportunities, Partnerships and Empowerment.
MetroHealth has screened 80,000 patients for the social determinants of health. If they find a barrier, they try to add a fix to the prescription.
“Understanding who's impacted across what different domains, whether that's food or housing or transportation, and then to do our best job to strategically design services and supports and interventions to meet those needs,” explains Karen Cook, Director of Healthy Families & Thriving communities in MetroHealth’s Institute for H.O.P.E.
If it's a problem they can't solve, they partner with those who can.
“We really collaborate within the community and the community based organization that is available and we build the Unite Us, which is an electronic referral platform,” adds Dr. Nabil Chehade, MetroHealth exec. VP for population and digital health.
COVID-19 pushed hospital-at-home initiatives, that means medical house calls and a better way to evaluate obstacles.
“And you will see what is available to them. You will learn if they have a refrigerator that's working that can store their insulin properly,” Dr. Chehade says.
The data is invaluable and can be used to help other communities. MetroHealth is already seeing results.
“We're also seeing somewhat of a trend towards decreased use of the emergency department,” Cook points out.
“Regardless of which zip code you live in, you should have equal access to the best acute care that you can have," adds Dr. Chehade.
Another social determinant of health that is a concern in the community is food insecurity. MetroHealth partnered with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and promised one million meals to the surrounding community over the next five years.
They’re also teaching patients how to view food as good medicine.
According to Feeding America, more than 14% of people living in Cuyahoga County can’t afford good, quality food.
Those who are food insecure have higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. To combat this, MetroHealth started the Food As Medicine clinic.
Ohio grocery prices increased 12% this year. According to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, demand for assistance is up 11% from pre-pandemic levels. There is more need now than ever, but often those who need healthier food, don’t know how to find it.
“All the foods that we have are diabetic friendly, we are getting foods that are lower in sugar, lower in sodium, but we’re really promoting fresh foods as well,” said Ellen McLaughlin, DTR, supervisor of the Food as Medicine clinic.
Think of it like a pharmacy, only the medicine tastes better.
Who gets this prescription?
“MetroHealth patients who have screened positive for food insecurity and have either diabetes, high blood pressure or they’ve had a recent hospitalization for congestive heart failure,” said Jennifer Bier, Manager of Ambulatory Nutrition at MetroHealth Medical Center.
Shelves are stocked thanks to the Cleveland Food Bank and produce is donated or locally sourced. But patients get more than groceries.
“Each participant is gonna receive each time they come a package of food that is supposed to supply three days’ worth of meals for their entire household,” Bier said.
Patients learn how to read labels, find healthier options and receive healthy, simple recipes.
“Because most people, you know, when they have a chronic condition, they want to be healthy. They want to prevent those complications that can come down the line,” Bier said.
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