Community Benefits from Community Benefits: A Comprehensive Approach to Food Access and Health

Lankenau Medical Center and The Food Trust are partnering to pilot an innovative new program to help the hospital’s underserved patients access fresh, local fruits and vegetables. Lankenau Medical Center has joined the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and The Food Trust as a key partner in the Philly Food Bucks Program. This coupon incentive program encourages SNAP (food stamp) recipients to purchase high-quality, healthy food at Food Trust farmers' markets. For every $5 in SNAP purchases at market, customers receive a $2 Philly Food Bucks coupon to bring home 40% more fresh fruits and vegetables. Lankenau Medical Center is now distributing Philly Food Bucks coupons and information to a target group of hospital patients, to encourage healthy and affordable food purchases and track long-term behavior change. Lankenau Medical Associates, a primary care practice at Lankenau, has incorporated Philly Food Bucks directly into patients’ health care and their electronic medical record as a prescription for health.

Coupled with the Food Bucks program patients are being enrolled in nutrition education programming.  In addition to working with patients to connect them to resources in the community, the hospital is also increasing their presence and bringing the “clinic” into the community by placing Lankenau ambassadors at select farmers’ markets to provide nutrition information, conduct health screenings, and other family-oriented wellness activities.

This session will provide an overview of an innovative partnership between a major medical center and a local non-profit working together at the intersection of nutrition, food insecurity, primary care, and community health.