Stormont Vail Health’s Prescriptive Food Pantry Improves Health and Builds Trust

Nearly 13% of Americans were food insecure in 2022 — that is, they lacked consistent access to enough foods or to healthy foods. For people of all ages living with chronic health conditions, food insecurity poses a real challenge.

Topeka, Kan.-based Stormont Vail Health has developed a robust “prescriptive pantry” that is helping combat food insecurity and making it easier for patients to manage health issues like diabetes. Patients screened and classified as food insecure and with a hemoglobin A1C test result higher than 9% work directly with a registered nurse care manager. The assigned nurse provides encouragement and disease and medication education to ensure patients reach goals and achieve improved health outcomes.

Dawn Waugh, a Stormont Vail Health patient living with type 2 diabetes, explains she has struggled to find foods that are appropriate for her. Her diet previously consisted of many unhealthy processed foods. Thanks to the prescriptive pantry, Dawn says she has better food choices, which ultimately helps her feel better.

Stormont Vail Community Health Engagement Director Karla Hedquist observes that the prescription pantry has helped build trust between community members and the health system — and is increasing patients’ trust of their physicians and care teams.

Watch the video featuring Dawn’s story.

Learn more about Stormont Vail Health’s work to address food insecurity.