By Courtney Smith, MS, RD, CLC, CPT, NOAH Dietitian
I’m excited to share that a research article I authored was recently published in Translational Behavioral Medicine, highlighting how local food- and nutrition-related agencies in San Diego responded to the rise in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The findings are relevant to the work we all do here at NOAH, supporting patients facing similar barriers highlighted in the study. Here are the key takeaways and how they relate to the work we do at NOAH.
1. The pandemic changed the way agencies were operating, creating both challenges and new opportunities.
Barriers like limited in-person contact led to agencies finding new ways to serve their communities such as opening drive-through food distributions and shifting programs to virtual platforms, which actually helped expand access to vulnerable populations. At NOAH, we are all about creative adaptations, from offering virtual appointments to patients without reliable transportation to medical providers coordinating same day visits with the dental team when urgent needs arise. Across all of our departments, flexibility remains essential to providing the best possible care.
2. Internal and external partnerships were critical to filling care gaps.
Agencies relied on both within-agency collaboration and outside partnerships to meet rising demand. This really resonates with how we function at NOAH. Our Community Resources team connects patients to outside support systems while our medical, psychiatry, behavioral health, dental, and nutrition teams collaborate closely to provide whole-person care. Referrals between departments are an essential part of how we serve our patients.
3. The pandemic prompted strategic, long-term thinking.
Rather than staying in reaction mode, many agencies began restructuring their operations to focus on long-term sustainability and resilience. At NOAH, we’re doing the same. We continue to collaborate, think creatively, and find new ways to support our patients and communities, not just during crises, but every day.
This research only deepened my appreciation for how vital FQHCs like NOAH are in addressing the root causes of health disparities among vulnerable communities. Thank you all for the amazing work you do daily to support our patients!
