Perspective: Leveraging Electronic Health Record Data Within Food Is Medicine Program Evaluation: Considerations and...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Growing interest in Food is Medicine (FIM) programs for health care reimbursement.
• FIM researchers need to demonstrate cost-effectiveness through improved health outcomes and reduced health care utilization.
• Primary data collection for FIM evaluation is resource-intensive and burdensome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenges and opportunities in using Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for FIM program evaluation.
• To discuss alternative data sources for assessing long-term FIM outcomes.
• To inform best practices for FIM evaluation within large health systems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of recurring challenges in leveraging EHR data for FIM evaluation, focusing on biomarkers and health care utilization.
• Review of experiences from over 100 Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Produce Prescription FIM projects.
• Discussion of potential and limitations of EHR data for FIM research.

Main Results:

• EHRs present significant, often insurmountable, difficulties for FIM studies despite their potential for existing data.
• Specific challenges exist in using EHRs to track biomarkers and health care utilization for FIM program impact.
• Large integrated health systems are uniquely positioned to utilize their own EHR data for FIM outcome assessment.

Conclusions:

• While EHRs offer a promising avenue, practical challenges hinder their widespread use in FIM evaluation.
• A combination of EHR data and other sources is likely necessary for comprehensive FIM outcome assessment.
• Strategic use of EHRs within integrated health systems may provide valuable insights into FIM program effectiveness.