Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health is utilizing the MyCommunity platform to make referrals for patients experiencing food insecurity.
My Community allows the health system to refer patients to food pantries that can provide them with access to local resources in North Carolina, according to a Jan. 30 news release from Novant.
The move is a part of Novant Health's mission to address social determinants of health.
"Each month, we have, on average, 3,000 patients screening positive for food insecurity in our clinics, with 400 to 600 patients not having food for that day," said Jerome Williams, Jr., MD, cardiologist and senior vice president of consumer engagement of Novant. "As we seek to care for the whole person, we must look beyond the care we provide in our facilities and work to prevent poor health outcomes, which includes providing our patients with nutritious food."
To further address this issue, Novant has also implemented QR codes on exam room doors in which patients, who screen positive for a social determinant of health, can identify resources in their area that can help them.