Actionable Steps to Support Patients Facing Food Insecurity with Lemontree
As a valued partner in our mission, we know that your work extends far beyond the clinic walls. Every day, you see firsthand how non-medical needs, like access to food, directly impact your patients' health outcomes. Managing diabetes is nearly impossible for someone who is hungry, and a parent's focus on their child's wellness visit is understandably secondary to worries about their next meal.
To support your incredible efforts, including the possibility of millions of people losing access to SNAP benefits next week, we've outlined three actionable steps you can take today using the CareMessage platform to connect your patients with the resources they need. Our sample messages promote Lemontree, a tech non-profit organization that makes it easy for people to find resources for food. If you missed our Connected by Care Summit last week, you can rewatch their presentation and demo.
Three Actionable Steps to Address Food Insecurity
1. Identify the Need with Proactive Screening
You can't solve a problem you can't see. Use a simple Outreach campaign to proactively and privately screen your patient population for food insecurity. A simple, low-barrier question can open the door for patients who may not feel comfortable bringing it up in person.
Sample Message
| English | Spanish | |
| Question | We know some of our patients may face challenges in the next few weeks with accessing food. Would it help to get connected with free or low-cost food near you? Text YES or NO | Sabemos que algunos de nuestros pacientes podrían tener dificultades para acceder a alimentos en las próximas semanas. ¿Les ayudaría conectarse con alimentos gratuitos o de bajo costo cerca de usted? Responda SI o NO |
| If YES | Lemontree helps you access fresh food and local programs with support every step of the way. Learn more here at http://www.foodhelpline.org/?ref=caremessage | Lemontree te ayuda a acceder a alimentos frescos y programas locales, brindándote apoyo en cada paso del proceso. Obtén más información: https://www.foodhelpline.org/es/?ref=caremessage |
| If NO | No problem! Your clinic care team is here if you ever need help accessing food or local programs. We also recommend this free online resource: http://www.foodhelpline.org/?ref=caremessage | ¡No hay problema! Nuestro equipo está aquí si necesita ayuda para acceder a alimentos o programas locales. También le recomendamos este recurso gratuito en línea: https://www.foodhelpline.org/es/?ref=caremessage |
2. Connect Patients to Immediate Resources
Whether you've identified patients who need support, or generally know your population needs, use outreach to connect them with vital resources.
Sample Message
|
English |
Spanish |
| Lemontree helps you access fresh food and local programs with support every step of the way. Learn more at http://www.foodhelpline.org/?ref=caremessage | Lemontree te ayuda a acceder a alimentos frescos y programas locales, brindándote apoyo en cada paso del proceso. Obtén más información: https://www.foodhelpline.org/es/?ref=caremessage |
3. Drive Utilization of Services and Events
Go beyond just sharing information by using CareMessage to manage the logistics of food distribution events. Timely reminders can dramatically increase attendance and ensure resources get to the families who need them.
Sample Message
|
English |
Spanish |
| Our clinic will host a food distribution event on [Day of Week], [Date] from [Time] - [Time]. Visit us at [Location]. | Nuestra clínica organizará una distribución de alimentos el [Day of Week], [Date] de [Time] - [Time]. Visítenos en [Location]. |
Other Creative Ways to Provide Resources
The complexity of connecting patients to food, particularly at a time when they may lose access to benefits like SNAP, can feel overwhelming. It’s a difficult time for your patients, but you are not alone in supporting their needs. Here are some other potential resources patients may consider to get through these times:
- Too Good to Go - Too Good to Go is a certified B corp focused on reducing food waste. Local restaurants list food bags, often from left overs from the day for as little as $5 per bag.
- DoorDash - DoorDash has launched an Emergency Food Response fund and is waving food delivery and service fees to SNAP recipients.
- FoodFinder - Offers an online directory with information on local food resources alongside opening hours.
- Feeding America - Find national and localized resources. For example, their Backpack Program provides backpacks to students to support food insecurity over the weekend and during school breaks.
Get Started Today
This approach is a proven strategy being used by our partners nationwide. Our recent analysis of patient communications revealed that food access was the single largest social need addressed on our platform, with over 1 million messages sent on the topic last year. Leveraging simple, accessible technology is a powerful way to make a meaningful impact on food insecurity.
You have the tools to start making a difference on this issue right now. We encourage you to log in to your CareMessage account and leverage our ready-to-use messages to connect patients to care. Thank you for your partnership and for the incredible, life-changing work you do every day.