HonorHealth, Scottsdale, AZ
Utilization of Community Resources to Address Food Insecurity in a Federally Qualified Health Center

Background: The CHNA for HonorHealth Osborn identified food insecurity as a significant health disparity within our community. The USDA defines food insecurity as “a state in which consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.” Overall, 15.9% of all Maricopa County households are food insecure, including 25.4% of Maricopa County children. The Desert Mission (DM) program (established in 1927) began under the John C. Lincoln (JCL) Health Network to help underserved families meet their health and social needs. With the newly merged HonorHealth (Scottsdale Healthcare and JCL), DM expanded its services into a new geographic area.

Methods: We used a 2-question screening tool to identify those with food insecurity at Heuser Family Medicine Center. (1) Within the past 12 months, we worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more. This was true “often,” “sometimes,” “never.” (2) Within the past 12 months, the food we bought just didn’t last and we didn’t have money to get more. This was true “often,” “sometimes,” “never.”

Results: Overall, 1 in 3 patients screened positive for food insecurity. In November, 33.33% of patients screened positive; in December, 31.44% of patients screened positive; and in January, 35% of patients screened positive. Patients meeting criteria were offered services, including emergency food supplies, and were administered a risk assessment to better define their overall social needs.

Conclusion: Implementation of a 2-question screening tool is a rapid, easily reproducible way to identify a previously unseen portion of our patient population that is food insecure. Partnering with community food banks and using their resources can help this vulnerable population address this health inequity. Future efforts targeting EHR integration will make it easier to follow these patients and improve screening efficiency.