Medical center farmers market aids in medical home goals

(HealthDay)—A seasonal farmers market at a medical center can support the institution's commitment to the goals of the medical home, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

Daniel R. George, Ph.D., from Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, and colleagues collected descriptive data on the farmers market from multiple records as well as the market's Facebook and Twitter sites in order to assess how the market is meeting the six standards of the 2011 National Committee for Quality Assurance's report on the medical home.

The researchers found that 146 medical center volunteers from 40 departments formed 23 interprofessional teams during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Teams spent an average of 551 volunteer hours per season at the market providing 695 health screenings and speaking to 636 customers about preventive health. Along with the medical center staff, 55 nonmedical community health partners volunteered for 208 hours. The market provided opportunities for interprofessional mentoring, student leadership, data management, development of social media skills, and grant-writing experience. All six medical home standards were met with the market.

"With systematic tracking of the health effects and integration with electronic medical health records, markets hold potential to contribute to comprehensive patient-centered care," the authors write.

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