Our Lady of the Lake North’s Geaux Get Healthy Clinical Program recently received a recent $100,000 grant from Healthy Blue Louisiana, a Medicaid managed healthcare provider.
“We are excited to have this new partnership with Healthy Blue,” said Tiffany Wesley Ardoin, MD, Geaux Get Healthy program director and principal investigator. “We know that clinical care only comprises about 20% of a patient’s overall health, while the other 80% includes things like access to healthy foods and education on how to utilize them. Healthy Blue understands this, and the organization’s support of this program is proof.”
Since 2018, Geaux Get Healthy has partnered with HealthyBR and Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome to promote a better and healthier life for all people in the city of Baton Rouge. Addressing food insecurity and bridging the gap between clinical care and community healthcare is at the core of the Geaux Get Healthy program.
Food insecurity is directly linked to the whole health of individuals, families, and communities. The organizations are coming together to fight hunger through an innovative approach, where physicians screen patients for food insecurity, thus providing immediate impact. This partnership will help the Geaux Get Healthy program decrease food insecurity throughout Baton Rouge. Residents will also learn about nutrition that highlights affordable and healthy foods to improve their health.
“Understanding the prevalence of food insecurity is key to making people healthier and we are proud to make resources and information more accessible to our community members,” said Christy Valentine, MD, Healthy Blue Louisiana president. “Through the Geaux Get Healthy Clinical Program, we believe we can drive meaningful change and improve quality of life for the communities we serve. As part of Healthy Blue’s longstanding commitment to improving the health of our communities, we are addressing the complex and interconnected factors—like food, housing, social, and financial circumstances—that shape health.”
Through the Geaux Get Healthy program, community members who have been identified as food-insecure participate in free cooking and nutrition classes, tour a local grocery store with a registered dietitian, and gain access to other vital resources to help improve their health.
“The program was very entertaining and helpful,” said Kelli Martin, Healthy Blue member and Geaux Get Healthy program participant. “I learned a lot of stuff I didn’t know, and I’m a chef. They taught us about shopping for healthier options by reading the labels on products, as well as how to cook more nutritious meals.”
For more information about Geaux Get Healthy’s events, or to find out if you are eligible to participate in its nutrition programs, go to healthybr.com/geauxgethealthy.