| Sumario: | Significance & Background: A cancer diagnosis can cause hardship to patients, including food insecurity. Research shows adequate nutrition impacts patient outcomes and treatment adherence. Patients with a high financial burden may decide to delay or forgo treatment when they must prioritize purchasing food. Evidence supports food insecurity being prevalent among patients experiencing financial toxicity. Additionally, food insecurity worsens health outcomes, while addressing food insecurity improves survival and health. Cancer centers nationwide have implemented programs to address food insecurity. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to share one cancer center's approach to screening for and addressing food insecurity. Interventions: An adult oncology clinic partnered with a local nonprofit to supply shelf stable food to patients reporting food insecurity and implemented a workflow to provide social work consultation to assist and connect patients with local food resources. All clinic and infusion patients are offered the Hunger Vital Signs Survey, a validated survey that screens for food insecurity. If either question is answered in the affirmative, the nursing or support staff provide the patient with a box of shelf stable food designed to last for roughly one week. Additionally, staff place an order for social work. The social worker connects the patient to additional resources such as SNAP, WIC, local food pantries, or meal programs. Patients are eligible to receive one box a week throughout treatment. 140 Staff members were educated on food insecurity prevalence in the state and the process for screening and intervention. Results: The program was implemented on July 2, 2025, and is ongoing. In month one, 2,303 screenings were completed, of which 258 were positive, and 141 boxes were accepted. At this time, we are unable to track the number of unique patients served due to the screening process workflow. Discussion: The partnership formed between the organization and community nonprofit provides a valuable resource for cancer patients within the cancer center. The ability to provide same-day food boxes is a lifeline to quality nutrition not available previously. Identification of patients in need and the referral process to social work ensures patients receive ongoing nutritional support to improve patient outcomes and treatment adherence.
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