Abstract
IntroductionFood insecurity is a significant issue in the United States and is prevalent in emergency department (ED) patients. The purpose of this study was to report the novel use of an integrated electronic medical record (EMR) order for food resources, and to describe our initial institutional referral patterns after focused education and implementation of the order.MethodsThis was a retrospective, observational study, describing food-bank referral patterns before and after the implementation of dedicated ED education on the novel EMR order for food resources.ResultsIn 2015, prior to formal education a total of 1,003 referrals were made to the regional food bank, Second Harvest Heartland. Five referrals were made from the ED. In 2016, after the educational interventions regarding the referral, there were 1,519 referrals hospital-wide, and 55 referrals were made from the ED. Of the 1,519 referrals 1,129 (74%) were successfully contacted by Second Harvest Heartland, and 954 (63%) accepted and received assistance.ConclusionUse of the EMR as a tool to refer patients to partner organizations for food resources is plausible and may result in an increase in ED referrals for food resources. Appropriate education is crucial for application of this novel ED process.
Highlights
Food insecurity is a significant issue in the United States and is prevalent in emergency department (ED) patients
We described the frequency of food resource referrals before and after the implementation of an ED electronic medical record (EMR) order for food resources
Education on the EMR referral order), a total of 1,003 referrals were made to Second Harvest Heartland; only five were made from the ED
Summary
The prevalence of hunger and the impact of food insecurity in the emergency department (ED) is clinically important and likely underestimated.[4,5,6,7] One study reported that 23.7% of ED patients reported hunger or food insecurity in the year prior, and nearly 18% of patients chose medicine over food during that same time period. Many of these patients reported the belief that this decision resulted in illness, ED visits, and hospitalization.[7]. Targeted education of the ED staff on food insecurity and instruction on the use of the EMR order was performed
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