SSM Health Gardens Make A Dent In Food Insecurity And Health Disparities

From the SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

November 3, 2020

The 2020 harvest is over in SSM Health’s regions and, in terms of making an impact on social determinants of health, it’s been a success all around.

In Beloit, Wis., a $5,000 SSM Health grant provided the means for the Merrill Community Sharing Garden to double its size and its harvest. And, in Shawnee, Okla., the groundwork laid in 2019 for the Veggie Rx program generated a sizable return on health in its statistics.

The Beloit garden, run by Community Action Inc., is located in what’s called a “food desert” -- a neighborhood that lacks any grocery stores. Residents are free to take whatever fruits and vegetables they need. In 2020, the garden not only had an abundant harvest but used some of the funds to build an outdoor classroom for the community.

“We wanted to make the garden more robust, to not only increase the produce but to take it to the next level with the outdoor classroom, where we could also teach about nutrition, canning and preserving,” said Megan Timm, community health manager for the region.

While the COVID-19 pandemic caused some delays, construction of the classroom was completed in October.

The Veggie Rx program in Oklahoma is farther along on its path – it launched last year. The initiative connects SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital-Shawnee staff with the community, assisting people with chronic health needs to access and benefit from a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. It loops in local grocers as well in encouraging people to choose healthy foods.

Veggie RX also helps with food insecurity and educating participants in how to budget for healthy food versus unhealthy options. Here’s how it works: A physician writes a Veggie RX prescription and then connects the patient with a medical group dietitian to get them enrolled. Only 40 participants are allowed in each 12-week cycle, and patients must do pre- and post-lab work and paperwork.

The “prescriptions” are filled at participating grocery stores. Cooking demonstrations, store tours and other educational opportunities are also part of the program.

"Medical providers and patients both need more tools to address food insecurity and diet-related chronic illness. Through Veggie Rx, our hospital and clinic can be a driver to get patients access to the healthy food that they want and need," said Angi Mohr, president, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee.

The approach is working. The pilot program produced these results:

• 89 percent of patients consumed more produce
• 94 percent said eating fruits and vegetables improved their health
• 44 percent reported their family’s food insecurity decreased
• 73 percent of patients even lowered their BMI

And, on July 28, Veggie Rx, developed in conjunction with Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County, received a $50,000 Telligen Community Initiative grant.

This press release was produced by the SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed are the author's own.