
Hospitals can help to address the Social Determinants of Health for their patients by providing home-delivered meals after hospitalization. GA Foods offers post-discharge meals to help improve patient outcomes after an acute stay.
- One-third of hospital patients are malnourished at admission
- Post-discharge meals can help to reduce hospital readmissions and keep patients healthier
- Patients place value on the convenience of home-delivered meals after a hospital stay
- Many patients are unable to prepare their own meals after discharge
- Home-delivered meals help patients to regain their strength and energy faster for better recoveries
- GA Foods is the recognized leader in providing nutrition solutions – serving highly nutritious, chef and dietitian-developed meals for seniors for over 40 years.
- Signs of malnutrition for your patient may include:
- Exhibiting significant weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness
- Requiring significant assistance for key Activities of Daily Living
- Changes in body shape, size, and/or composition
- Changes in body function
GA Foods’ specially trained Field Service Representatives (FSRs) deliver meals personally to the patients’ homes. They are the second set of eyes and can report any concerns to MCO case managers.
- FSRs can unpack meals for the patient. FSRs undergo extensive criminal background checks, driving record review, and drug screening
- Proprietary tablet technology enables GA Foods to conduct custom surveys of health plan patients with real-time results
- Multi-lingual and HIPAA-compliant care team supports MCO case managers and clients
- Menus are
- Developed by Registered Dietitians to meet the unique nutrient requirements of senior adults
- Designed to meet or exceed the recommended nutrition guidelines for seniors
- Accompanied by complete nutrient analysis of each meal as well as an overall analysis for each weekly package
- High-quality meals are prepared by culinary experts. Our executive chef adds flavor and flair to familiar foods that appeal to the generation of consumers we serve. Better taste means seniors will eat and have better health outcomes.
- Over 60 fresh frozen and shelf-stable meals available.
- We offer menus that are heart-healthy and diabetic-friendly.
- Meals are prepared in USDA-inspected and approved facilities. An independent USDA inspector is onsite during all meal preparation to ensure proper procedures are used for food safety.
Sources and References:
Budget Impact of a Comprehensive Nutrition-Focused Quality Improvement Program for Malnourished Hospitalized Patients, American Health and Drug Benefits, July 2017, Vol 10, No 5
Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: food and nutrition for older adults: promoting health and wellness, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2012 Aug; 112(8): 1255-77. don: 10.1016/j.jand.2012.06.015.
Post-discharge nutritional support in malnourished elderly individuals improves functional limitations, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2011 May;12(4):295-301. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2010.12.005. Epub 2011 Feb 11.
Critical Role of Nutrition in Improving Quality of Care: An Interdisciplinary Call to Action to Address Adult Hospital Malnutrition, Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, June 4, 2013, Kelly A. Tappenden, PhD, RD, FASPEN, Beth Quatrara, DNP, RN, CMSRN, ACNS-BC, Melissa L. Parkhurst, MD, …
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