Veterans Affairs FreshConnectProduceRx: a study protocol for a pragmatic quasi-experimental study assessing health, healthcare costs, and implementation processes of a produce prescription program in VA medical centers

Top Things to Know

This approach has the potential to improve clinical outcomes like blood pressure and HbA1c, demonstrating that food-based interventions can be a therapeutic tool.

The use of EHR-based screening and clinician referrals ensures that food insecurity is identified and addressed within routine care.

Tailoring the program to Veterans’ needs highlights the importance of culturally and logistically appropriate interventions to reduce health disparities and promote nutrition security.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The VA FreshConnect Produce Prescription Program (VA FCPRx) is a 12-month, quasi-experimental intervention targeting food-insecure Veterans with diet-sensitive cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Conducted at VA medical centers in Salt Lake City and Houston, the program provides $100 monthly for fresh produce, along with culinary education via classes or dietitian consults. Participants are identified through electronic health record (EHR) screening and referred by VA clinicians. The study evaluates clinical outcomes (e.g., BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c), healthcare utilization and costs, and patient-reported measures like nutrition security and well-being. Implementation is assessed using the PRISM RE-AIM framework to inform scalability. The study aims to generate evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of embedding Food is Medicine interventions within integrated healthcare systems.