BUCKHANNON — Davis Medical Center’s population health initiative is gearing up to launch its third Food Farmacy cohort, a program dedicated to addressing food insecurity and enhancing health outcomes for patients with diabetes. This initiative is aimed specifically at providing patients with access to nutritious foods and the resources needed to manage their conditions effectively.

“Through our population health program data, we know that food insecurity negatively affects the health of residents in our service area, especially those with diabetes,” said Dr. Catherine “Mindy” Chua, DO, MS, FAAFP, FNMN, CPE, FAAPL. “The food farmacy bridges the gap between patients struggling to afford nutritious foods, and successfully controlling blood sugar levels and preventing complications.”

The program spans 12 months and includes six months of interactive nutrition and health education, healthy meal planning and preparation, as well as monitoring vital health statistics. The latter half of the program focuses on helping patients apply their new skills and education to establish sustainable lifestyle changes.

“Patient outcomes were varied during our 2021 pilot program,” Chua said. “We tracked weight, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C levels, and quality of life metrics at specific intervals throughout the 12-month period and came away with learnings that have helped improve the program for the current cohort.”

Chua identified transportation, illiteracy, and personal motivation as barriers faced by patients. She added, “We’re working to overcome these challenges through the development of video classes and picture recipe cards.”

Operating the pilot program cost approximately $7,500. With the program now set to double in size, Chua noted that efforts are underway to offset expenses through grants, volunteers, and community partnerships.

Support for the Davis Medical Center Food Farmacy has come from Citizens Bank of WV, Davis Health System Foundation, and Vandalia Health.

“As a community hospital, it’s our role to improve the health and well-being of our population,” Chua added. “The Food Farmacy is an innovative program supporting patients in achieving their best possible health outcomes. We look forward to watching it grow and change lives.”