The Role of Medically Tailored Groceries in Mitigating Food Insecurity and Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Through Clinic-Community Partnerships
Case Western Reserve University
Summary
Medically tailored groceries (MTG), involving grocery items to be prepared at home, selected by a nutritional professional based on a treatment plan, is a growing approach adopted by healthcare systems to address food insecurity in their patient populations, a leading contribution to health disparities such as poor birth outcomes within pregnant populations. However, transportation and other social needs can often hinder patient uptake of clinic-based approaches. Findings from this study will help to better understand how home delivery of MTGs, with and without supplemental education and support to improve food literacy, behavioral and health outcomes.
Description
Medically tailored groceries (MTG) generally involve fresh and shelf-stable grocery items to be prepared at home, selected by a nutritional professional based on a treatment plan and are typically picked up at a clinic, market, or pantry. This clinic-based market or pantry model (CB-MTG) is a growing approach adopted by health care systems in their effort to address food insecurity in their patient population, including University Hospitals of Cleveland (UH) and MetroHealth Medical Center (Metro), two of the three largest health systems in Cleveland, Ohio. Often offered to patients with food-r…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–55 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age and older * Pregnant patients \>10 weeks and \<22 weeks gestation at randomization (must be consented by 18 weeks) * Eligible for Medicaid * Singleton pregnancy, confirmed by ultrasound * An established patient of the UH or Metro pregnancy clinic * English speaking * Lives in Cuyahoga County, Ohio Exclusion Criteria: * Under 18 years old
Interventions
- Dietary SupplementClinic-Based Medically Tailored Groceries (CB-MTG)
Patients have the opportunity to pick up medically tailored groceries every other week at the Food Is Medicine Clinic or Market associated with their provider.
- Dietary SupplementHome Delivered Medically Tailored Groceries (HD-MTG)
Patient receive home delivered medically tailored groceries every two weeks during pregnancy and up to 3 months post-delivery.
- Dietary SupplementHome Delivered Medically Tailored Groceries plus Education (HD-MTG_PLUS)
Patients receive home delivered medically tailored groceries every two weeks during pregnancy and up to 3 months post-delivery, plus also receives additional nutrition and culinary education and support throughout the trial.
Locations (2)
- MetroHealth Medical CenterCleveland, Ohio
- University Hospitals Rainbow Ahuja Women and Children's CenterCleveland, Ohio