SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Hunger as a Vital Sign: An Interprofessional Team-Based Program to Screen Hospitalized Patients for Food Insecurity

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This document describes a student-led, interprofessional quality improvement project aimed at increasing food insecurity screening among hospitalized patients. Food insecurity is linked to poor health outcomes and disproportionately affects communities of color, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project responded to a gap in hospital practice: before the intervention, only 2.9% of adult encounters were screened for food security, even though 13.5% of those screened had food insecurity.<br /><br />The pilot, launched in May 2021, focused on two hospital units and involved dietitians and dietetic technicians incorporating a two-question Hunger Vital Sign screener into every nutrition consult. Patients who screened positive were referred to social work. Staff received a two-hour training module covering food insecurity as a social determinant of health, how to use the screener, and how to document needs in Epic using the Social Determinants of Health Wheel. The team also used weekly reminders, audit feedback, and communication tools to support workflow.<br /><br />Interviews and surveys before the pilot found unclear staff roles, low awareness of the Epic SDoH Wheel, and no standardized screening/documentation process. The intervention improved screening substantially: 25% of patients on the intervention units were screened compared with 2% on the control unit. Screening rates did not differ significantly by preferred language, but Asian patients were screened less often than non-Asian patients, suggesting the need for further investigation. Overall, the project shows that standardized, team-based screening can improve identification of food insecurity and connect patients with support services.

Asset Subtitle

Stephanie Rennke

Meta Tag

Author List Chloe Sasakado, Nancy Choi, Pedro Gallardo, Rashmi Manjunath, Reinholdt Olson, Stephanie Rennke

Category Innovations

Concept Food Insecurity

Concept AAP Hunger Vital Signs

Concept Social Determinant

Concept Screening

Concept Interprofessional Team

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Ucsf

Presenting Author Stephanie Rennke

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

food insecurity

hospitalized patients

screening

quality improvement

interprofessional collaboration

Hunger Vital Sign

social determinants of health

nutrition consult

social work referral

COVID-19 pandemic

Food Insecurity

AAP Hunger Vital Signs

Social Determinant

Screening

Interprofessional Team