Mid-South Food Pharmacy Offers Food as Medicine

Methodist Healthcare and the Mid-South Food Bank have teamed up to launch the Mid-South Food Pharmacy program. The program launched in late 2021 at Methodist University Hospital. 

With funding from Cardinal Health Foundation, the Food Pharmacy provides patients identified as food insecurity with a box of nutritious, shelf-stable food that can feed their household for 72 hours. 

The program aims to reduce hospital readmissions and provide critical access to food for patients struggling with food insecurity during the first three days back at home- a time when grocery shopping and meal planning are challenging and a focus on health is paramount. 

Once a patient receives support from the Food Pharmacy, they will receive follow up outreach from MLH team members to help assist them in identifying a Food Bank pantry site where they can receive ongoing food support and also link them to educational classes or other social resources they may benefit from. 

The program strives to address food insecurity as a critical social determinant of health issue that impacts many patients in the Memphis and Mid-South region. Ultimately, Methodist and the Food Bank hope to define measurable outcomes from the program and will be evaluating changes in rates of hospital readmission, A1c level management, and self-reported feelings of food insecurity. 

The Methodist Healthcare Foundation is actively seeking additional funding partners to support the program at Methodist University as well as to expand the model to other Methodist Hospitals, beginning with Methodist South Hospital in Fall of 2022. 

To view a list of food access resources as well as educational offerings, click here.