Conceptual Framework and Key Considerations for Field-Based Infrastructure in Food Is Medicine Research
Top Things to Know
Community trust and meaningful community engagement should be treated as foundational infrastructure rather than ancillary components of FIM research and implementation.
Building interoperable data systems, standardized evaluation approaches, and cross-sector partnerships may help accelerate evidence generation and program scalability.
Sustained financing and policy alignment are likely to be necessary for long-term integration of FIM interventions into routine healthcare delivery.
Summary of Conclusion/Findings
This report presents a framework for developing the field-based infrastructure needed to support rigorous, equitable, and scalable Food Is Medicine (FIM) research, drawing on work conducted through the American Heart Association's Healthcare by FoodTM initiative. The authors suggest that community trust should be the foundation of FIM research and implementation and identify four interconnected pillars: community-engaged research, data and technology infrastructure, multisector partnerships, and sustainable financing and policy supports. The framework emphasizes that successful FIM interventions require more than food delivery alone and depend on coordinated systems that enable participant identification, referral workflows, data sharing, implementation evaluation, and long-term sustainability. The paper also highlights challenges facing the field, including inconsistent outcome measures, fragmented data systems, workforce limitations, and inequitable access to resources across communities. Rather than evaluating a specific intervention, the article provides a roadmap to help researchers, health systems, community-based organizations, and FIM providers generate stronger evidence and support broader implementation of FIM programs.