Let's go pharmacy WELLNESS WARRIORS!
"Food is Medicine" - Dr Tony Hampton, founder of Food Farmacy
Mission
The Food Farmacy program was created in 2018 to address food access, insecurity, and obesity. As a health system, we are aware that inequities and gaps in food access exist in our communities. We recognize the pandemic exacerbated the issue that led to a widening of the already disproportionate impact on Illinois’ most vulnerable patients.
Advocate Christ Medical Center, Advocate South Suburban Hospital and Advocate
Trinity Hospital, all located in the South Chicagoland Patient Service Area (PSA),
serve some of the most vulnerable populations in the city of Chicago. These hospitals
are part of one of the nation’s top not-for-profit hospital systems, Advocate Health. The system’s mission, values and philosophy are grounded in more than 100 years of
caring for individuals, families and local communities. The core mission of Advocate
Health is “to help people live well.”
Goals
1. Increases food security among patient populations
2. Increases ability to address crucial food security needs of patients through food distributions
3. Improves health outcomes by addressing access to healthy food
4. Improves chronic disease management through improved access to healthy food
History
2018: Started with 30 enrolled Advocate Trinity hospital patients
2021: Expanded to Advocate South Suburban hospital patients
2022: Through donor support, doubled the amount of produce provided and added protein to every other distribution
Nov 2023: Through donor support, expanded to Advocate Christ Medical Center/Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn patients
How it Works
Patients are screened by their physicians for food insecurity, and if they screen
positive, they are referred to the Food Farmacy and enrolled as participants. As participants, patients go to the Food Farmacy twice monthly to pick up fresh
produce and protein through a drive-thru format. Advocate’s Community
Health team organizes the distributions.
Ask
Please join CMC/ACHOL Pharmacy Unit Council in providing high-quality health care to those who need it most. We are raising fund in support of this great event and we will also have staff members volunteering their time at the upcoming event on November 11th.
We are extremely grateful for everyone's support. Thank you!!