Seema Patel
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine & PediatricsDepartment of Emergency Medicine
ude[dot]ui[at]letapses
Emergency Department Food Insecurity Screening, Food Voucher Distribution, and Referral Utilization: A Prospective Cohort Study
Our study, Emergency Department Food Insecurity Screening, Food Voucher Distribution and Utilization, translated research into practice by integrating validated food insecurity screening and immediate food voucher distribution within the ED. This real-world intervention demonstrated the feasibility of addressing social needs at the point of care and informed ongoing system efforts to improve resource access and coordination with community partners. Using the validated Hunger Vital Sign tool and structured data collection, the project applied evidence-based methods to a critical social determinant of health. Conducted collaboratively by emergency medicine, public health, and hospital operations teams, it exemplified an interdisciplinary approach. The program’s goal—to identify and reduce food insecurity among ED patients—advances holistic, equitable care and supports better everyday health outcomes.