Prescription: Buy produce
Pilot project guides chronic-disease patients to fruits, vegetables paid for by government
BELLEFONTAINE — The patients, all of whom have diabetes, enter the medical center, but not for lab tests, blood draws or treatment of complications.
On this day, they’re greeted by tables filled with carrots, broccoli and strawberries. The pharmacist dispenses produce, not pills.
Community Health and Wellness Partners houses the trappings that one would find in other medical practices. But, thanks to a contract with the Ohio Department of Health, it relies less on syringes, bandages and braces to treat those with chronic disease, especially diabetes.
The Logan County practice, with three offices, is part of Wholesome Wave, a national nonprofit organization advocating affordable and accessible produce. Community Health and Wellness Partners is one of two Ohio medical practices writing prescriptions for produce as a way to supplement traditional medicine.
The program is funded by $200,000 from the state and a federal Preventive Health and Health Services block grant. It provides about $30 a month per household member that is to be used only to buy produce. And although a dollar a day per person doesn’t sound like much, the program also serves up awareness about diet.
“Hopefully it will be a habit,” said Joellen Rockhold, 62, who has had diabetes for 13 years and is among the one-of-everyeight Logan County residents with the disease.
The vouchers, viewed as prescriptions, became available in February and will be issued through November. About 130 people are enrolled.
“I’ll buy my regular groceries, and then if I want something special like watermelon or cherries, I use my coupon book,” said Rockhold, who embraces the practice’s whole-person philosophy.
Traditional medicine says “go away and take these pills,” Rockhold said. “They keep adding diabetes pills. and I didn’t want more. I was up to five a day. Now I’m down to three.”
In addition to reducing her sweet tooth, Rockhold said she has lost almost 40 pounds by walking. And her blood-sugar level has dropped more than two points in nine months.
Ohio’s other federally qualified health center participating in the program is Hopewell Health Centers in Athens County.
Patients face no income requirements to participate.
The pilot program will be evaluated by the end of the year. Preliminary data shows that participants are enthusiastic and redeeming their vouchers, said J.C. Benton, Ohio Department of Health spokesman.
In the Logan County practice, pharmacist Jason Martinez doubles as life coach for the patients. He reviews their medications and often removes one or two from their lists, replacing them with lifestyle changes.
“I honestly probably stop more medications than I start, which might seem counterintuitive,” Martinez said. “More often than not, I try to get rid of a medication, especially when we can pull in behavioral health.”
Participants attend at least three one-hour classes dealing with stress, yoga, exercise and avoiding nutritional lapses. Martinez answers numerous questions about the vouchers.
“Can you use it on honey?” someone asked. “No. Only fruits and vegetables,” he replied.
The vouchers can be redeemed at one of two local, independent markets.
“Make your goals. Let us help you to see if you can meet those goals. And go out there and have fun,” Martinez told a recent group.
All of the staff members, including doctors, are adherents of the approach.
“I’m not a pill-pusher,” said Dr. Tynese Anderson. “I try to focus on lifestyle changes and diet.
“I feel like it’s the food, or what’s in the food, that is going to give you life or death.”
Patients can’t seem to get enough.
“I’m loving everything about it,” said Linda Jennings, 71. “I’m eating much more (produce), not because it’s free. But it’s been brought to my attention.”