Farmers Market Voucher Program A Community & Patient Engagement success story December 2, 2014
Brockton Farmers Market 2014
Prescription for Healthy Eating Modern research has shown that a healthy diet and active lifestyle can go a long way toward preventing cardiovascular disease and conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, that predispose one to developing it. I can look patients in the eye and say that they are going to live and live well if they follow this advice says Dr. Phillip Ades.
Brockton Neighborhood Health Center BNHC s patient population has a high rate of chronic illness. 27% or 4,933of our patients have hypertension 15% or 2,838 have diabetes 902 patients have asthma 646 have heart disease 8% or 3,394 have depression as a co-morbidity The Brockton population suffers high rates of chronic illness. Hospitalization for diabetes is particularly concerning. BNHC sees approximately 20% of the residents in Brockton and a significantly disproportionate percentage of the low income residents.
Farmers Market Voucher Program The BNHC/GSMC partnership brings a comprehensive approach to treatment of chronic disease through the components of: Patient Centered Medical Home, Chronic disease self-management groups (lead by Community Health Workers), Nutrition education (by a Nutritionist), Access to fresh food via the Farmers Market Voucher Program funded by Good Samaritan Medical Center.
Area Farmers Markets
Veggie Voucher Program
The Chronic Disease Self- Management Programs My Life My Health Program Participant education program developed by Stanford University. Participants are adults experiencing chronic health conditions. The program provides information and teaches practical skills on managing chronic health problems. My Life, My Health offers tools and motivation patients need to manage the challenges of living with a chronic health condition. The Diabetes Self Management Program Participant education program for people with diabetes. The program was developed by Stanford University and is offered in communities in the United States and several other countries. *Family members, caregivers or friends may also attend
Evidence-Based Learning These programs occur in community settings and are designed to empower adults living with one or more chronic conditions to take a more active role in their health care. The overall goal is to enable participants to build selfconfidence to assume an active role in maintaining their health and managing their chronic health conditions. The workshop is conducted over six sessions, meeting weekly for two and one-half (2½) hours per session. Sessions are led by two trained leaders.
Farmers Market Voucher Program 30 patients signed up for 12 week program Vouchers ranged from $10, $15 to $25 depending on individual or family size Family sizes ranged from 2 to 7 people 1 patient participated all 12 weeks 4 patients participated 11 weeks 17 patients participated 6 weeks
Healthy living in action 1440 vouchers were provided to 30 patients Vouchers added fresh fruit and vegetables to 6 individual and 24 family tables Community Health Workers hosted 2 My Life My Health Groups and 1 Diabetic Self-Management group Awarded 24 certificates to patients completing the CDSM groups BNHC hosted 4 nutrition groups
Health Indicators 20 Diabetic Patients 18 Diabetic patients showed improvements Cape Verdean female s A1C was greater than 14 on 4-22-2014 and A1C was 8.0 on 9-3-2014 54yo American male A1C was 10.8 on 6-6-2014 and 9-17-2014 it was 7.8 10 Hypertensive Patients 10 Hypertensive patients showed improvements 77yo Cape Verdean Male 6-30-2014 143/89 and on 10-10-2014 134/74 38yo Cape Verdean female 5-27-2014 HTN 177/95 and on 10-28 2014 HTN 146/89
The focus is on prevention and keeping people as healthy as possible so that we don t have to see them in the Emergency room Monique Aleman Sometimes when you get food stamps they think you can get everything, but you can t. The farmer s market helps with those other things I need to eat differently now. Eugenia Moore We might provide all the information, but the warm hand always helps The farmers market vouchers was a GREAT warm hand and it changed a lot of people's life style. Jack Cabral