169 - Food insecurity screening, social needs program engagement, and clinic visits for children with special healthcare needs

Poster Number: 169
Publication Number: 169.316

Charmaine Yuan, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Kristin Topel, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Laura Prichett, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Rama B. Imad, Hopkins Community Connection, Baltimore, MD, United States; Julia M. Kim, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Barry S. Solomon, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States

Background:
Food insecurity is a major social determinant of health that disproportionately affects families with children with complex medical needs; unfortunately, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is often inadequate. Our objective was to assess the association between emergency food receipt and enrollment in a clinic-based social needs program (Hopkins Community Connection, HCC) on follow-up rates among families receiving SSI in the Harriet Lane Clinic (HLC). 

 
 

Objective: Our objective was to assess the association between emergency food receipt and enrollment in a clinic-based social needs program (Hopkins Community Connection, HCC) on follow-up rates among families receiving SSI in the Harriet Lane Clinic (HLC). 

 

 
 

Design/Methods:
In this retrospective cohort study, we conducted a chart review to compare SSI patients who did and did not receive food and those who did and did not enroll in HCC during HLC visits between March-December 2020; number of diagnoses and no-show rates were also abstracted. Adjusted logistic regression was used to determine if food receipt and/or HCC enrollment increased the likelihood of attending primary and specialty care follow-up appointments (FU) by July 2020. 

 

Results: In bivariate analysis, compared to those who did not enroll with HCC, a higher percentage of enrolled SSI patients completed a FU (49% vs. 70%, P < 0.05). SSI patients who completed a FU had a significantly lower no-show rate than those who did not (21% vs. 27%, P < 0.01). Food receipt and number of diagnoses were not associated with FU. Adjusting for number of diagnoses, no-show rate, and then both, the association between food receipt and completing a FU and between HCC enrollment and FU remained non-significant.  Conclusion(s): HCC enrollment and no-show rate were found to be significantly associated with completed FU while food receipt and number of diagnoses were not. All findings from the logistic regression were non-significant but suggested that providing emergency food and helping families access community resources may be effective interventions to increase attendance at follow-up appointments. Based on chart review, a majority of the sample was not screened for food insecurity, offering an area for improvement. 
ResumeCharmaine Yuan_Resume Jan 2022.pdf
Table 2: Logistic regressionIncreased odds of follow-up, non-significant.