A.O. Fox Hospital Undertaking Initiatives to Combat Area Food Insecurity

A.O. Fox Hospital, part of the Bassett Healthcare Network, has prioritized combatting hunger as a population health improvement initiative in 2019. The hospital, in collaboration with several agencies, is working to reduce local food insecurity with hunger screenings and goals of establishing a patient food pharmacy while continuing to supplement other area food pantries.

Bassett Research Institute's Mohawk Valley Population Health Improvement Program (MVPHIP), a grant-funded program established by the New York State Department of Health, concluded a community health needs assessment for 2018-2019 in partnership with Fox Hospital, Bassett Medical Center, and the Otsego County Health Department. The assessment identified hunger in Otsego County as a major community health concern and stakeholders are selecting interventions that address food insecurity among other immediate health care challenges.  

On Feb. 1, Fox began implementing a hunger screening system in its electronic health record for inpatients. Patients who meet certain criteria and can benefit from additional support upon discharge are leaving the hospital with a basket that contains a variety of non-perishable food items, including applesauce, bread, soup, and bottled water. The supplies in each basket depend on a patient's dietary needs.

"Fox Hospital is very fortunate to have such a great team working on this project," says Sarah Buttice, MPH, director of Education and Employee Wellness at Fox. "Hunger affects hundreds of people in our surrounding communities. Creating discharge baskets for patients is only the first step Fox is taking to address area food insecurity. Several more projects are underway that will make a positive impact on our hospital employees and the folks we serve throughout our tri-county region."
Fox is working to reduce food insecurity in collaboration with key informants that represent a broad range of sectors, community interests, and agencies dedicated to supporting the area's medically underserved, low-income, and minority populations organizations like Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, Friends of Recovery Delaware & Otsego Counties, Opportunities for Otsego, and many others. Fox cooperates regularly with diverse stakeholders to assure the hospital is effectively addressing a variety of population health priorities and needs.

"When patients are discharged after receiving care in our facility, our job does not end," says Jeff Joyner, president of Fox Hospital. "The most difficult part of the care journey is just beginning when a patient must manage their health without the aid of our professionals. It is our job to ensure that all of our patients' health needs are satisfied and they are prepared to continue healing on their own, from proper medication instructions to a balanced diet. With the partnership of other stellar local agencies, Fox is dedicated to helping patients transition back into their lives on a path to lasting wellness."