WABASH, IND. – JULY 25, 2024 – Eating nutritious food is essential to health. The vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in fresh foods provide the fuel for a person’s body and mind. Unfortunately, people who lack consistent access to fresh foods are at a disadvantage and their health can suffer.
That’s where VeggieRx comes in.
VeggieRx is a produce prescription program that aims to help people with food insecurity, and who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, include more fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. This year – thanks to funding from the Parkview Health Foundation courtesy of generous donations to the Parkview Wabash Hospital Greatest Need Fund -- Parkview is offering this program to as many as 100 Wabash County residents who qualify.
“The use of produce prescription programs has become a best practice in communities across the country,” said Michelle Bojrab-Wray, MS, RDN, LD, FAND, lead community outreach dietitian and project director for VeggieRx, Parkview Health. “Research has shown that a combination of healthy lifestyle and well-balanced diet could prevent as much as 80% of chronic disease.”
VeggieRx helps increase fruit and vegetable consumption to improve health outcomes and reduce food insecurity in underserved populations. Over a six-month period, participants receive $50 per month to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, they attend four classes, led by a local registered dietitian, where they learn the benefits of eating more produce and how to prepare it through demonstrations and hands-on experiences.
“There is growing evidence that the Social Determinants of Health – early childhood development, adequate housing, safe environments and working conditions, economic stability, social connection, and food security – play enormous roles in health outcomes,” said Dr. Eric Reichenbach, section chief for Parkview Physicians Group – Family Medicine in Wabash, Huntington, Miami, Wells and Grant counties. “Healthcare providers have a limited amount of power to affect these systemic factors. However, research has shown that ‘food is medicine,’ and several years ago, Parkview was one of the leading healthcare systems in the country to pilot an intervention to test this concept. VeggieRx has proven to be successful in Allen County and now we are thrilled to bring it to our Wabash County community.”
Parkview partners with local farmers markets and other vendors so participants have multiple ways to purchase a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables with their monthly stipend. In Wabash County, participants receive a special Fresh Connect debit card that can be used at any Kroger or Walmart nationwide, as well as at the Wabash County Farmers Market and Cordes Berry Farm. Other farm stands and stores may be added.
The card is provided to enrolled participants after the first nutrition education class, which will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Parkview Wabash Hospital, 10 John Kissinger Drive, Wabash.
Reichenbach believes the strength of VeggieRx is its multi-pronged approach: “It combines access to fresh fruits and vegetables with education to empower patients to make better food choices and training to prepare wholesome meals. Not only are we seeing better short-term metrics in our patients, but VeggieRx is also an investment to improve longer-term disease outcomes.”
Deb Potempa, market president, Parkview Health South, shares Reichenbach’s enthusiasm.
“VeggieRx is such a win-win, and we are so grateful both to Dr. Reichenbach, for his support, and to the Parkview Health Foundation for making it possible to bring the program to Wabash County,” said Potempa. “In addition, we are excited about the program’s partnership with farmers and retailers to support the local food economy for the benefit of everyone.”
Investments in eating better pay off
Parkview piloted VeggieRx with 30 people in Allen County in 2019. In 2021, Parkview received a $466,373 Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and VeggieRx grew to serve 121 participants with plans to expand further. The following year, a second Gus Schumacher grant of $499,977 continued the support for VeggieRx, which has demonstrated success for hundreds of people, impacting the lives of 174 in 2022 and 305 in 2023.
In 2023, an Indiana Department of Health produce prescription planning grant supplied support for expansion of the program in Kosciusko, LaGrange and Huntington counties.
Past VeggieRx participants have seen measurably improved clinical outcomes, including lower A1C levels and blood pressure, weight loss and other overall health improvements. They’ve also become familiar with preparing fresh produce and have increased their knowledge of local food systems and resources.
“It’s been so exciting to see how VeggieRx has impacted the health and well-being of our Allen County participants, and we’re excited to offer the program and its benefits in additional counties,” said Dr. Sarah Giaquinta, MD, MPH, senior vice president, Community Health and Equity, Parkview Health. “Beyond the health improvements seen in participants, everyone who contributes to the program is enthusiastic about its impact, from the providers who prescribe VeggieRx and see their patients becoming more proactive about their health, to the dietitians who help patients learn new ways to prepare delicious, nourishing meals, to the farmers who are proud that the produce they grow is now more accessible to those who need it most.”
Qualifying for VeggieRx
To be eligible for the free program, an individual must reside in Wabash County and:
- Be a patient of a Parkview Health primary care or specialty provider.
- Obtain a referral to the program from their Parkview provider.
- Meet certain health and financial requirements, including having diabetes or pre-diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity, or having a high-risk pregnancy. In addition, the person must be receiving Medicaid, be dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, be uninsured, or screen positive for food insecurity.
Any person who believes they qualify should contact their Parkview provider to ask about a potential referral. Providers with questions may reach out to Kailey Canary, VeggieRx project coordinator, Parkview Health, at kailey.canary@parkview.com. Enrollment begins Aug. 1 and continues until available slots are filled.
For additional information, call 260-569-2114, email WabashVeggieRx@parkview.com or contact Kailey Canary at kailey.canary@parkview.com. General program information is available at parkview.com/VeggieRx.