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Posted
October 11, 2024

Ohio food prescription program leads to health benefits, study finds

A new study has found that an Ohio partnership between food pantries and health providers can have positive health impacts for patients (Source: “Study confirms Mid-Ohio Farmacy’s success in improving patients’ health,” WCMH TV (Columbus), Sept. 12).
 
The study, published in the Journal of Operations Management, looked at thousands of patients, with multiple health issues, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, who used the Mid-Ohio Farmacy, a partnership between the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and local healthcare providers who prescribe fresh food to qualifying patients at least once per month.
 
“The research study found that the food and health partnership model of care like that in the Mid-Ohio Farmacy program helps stabilize patient health outcomes,” according to a policy brief published by the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
 
“When we started having access to fresh food, it changed the way my family ate,” one client shared with WCMH TV in Columbus. “I started coming to the pantry two years ago and I’ve lost close to 50 lbs. It has changed my life.”