Nashville General Hospital Foundation

Food program - this program provides no cost fresh produce and shelf stable foods for any ngh patients identified with food insecurity. Nutritious foods are provided in response to the patient's diagnosis with special care for diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Resources are maximized by paying for shelf stable products from second harvest food bank, when possible. Ngh foundation initiated the outreach food program during the 2020 tornado and covid-19 pandemic to provide volunteer-delivered food bags to those identified in the community with food insecurity. Outreach food totes include the same nutrient-dense produce and shelf-stable products suitable for diabetic or hypertensive individuals. More than 310 meals have been offered from the food pharmacy and outreach programs.

Care/support programs patients medication fund this fund underwrites the provision of essential medications for patients unable to afford those costs until links to community long term resources are secured. Several thousand patients have been supported since its inception in 2020. Support for cancer patients beyond medical needs team chad and individual donors provide funds to support the nutritional, transportation and housing needs of oncology patients, with the goal of providing as much personal stability for highly challenged patients and families during oncology treatment and recovery. Employee care fund ngh foundation works with the employee care committee to respond to emergency needs for employees in times of crisis.

Low health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions. 9 out of 10 adults lack the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease. Health people 2030 has now identified health literacy as a cornerstone for its programs nationally. Ngh foundation has created 19 General health topics in english and spanish and an additional 8 topics for oncology patients in english, spanish and arabic. These materials are used with patients, food tote recipients and the General community. Ngh foundation has been the primary host for two Nashville health literacy forums in 2020 and 2021 towards engaging key players in a future collaboration of addressing health literacy within our community.

Project warm this program raises the visibility of clothing needs during fall and winter for ngh patients and families. Individuals and businesses donate blankets, sleeping bags, socks, hats, gloves and much more for discharged patients without suitable clothing. Art program for Nashville General Hospital the installation of original art at Nashville General Hospital beginning in 2016 might be categorized as cultural enrichment, but original art in the healthcare setting is a critical "healthy distraction." Although the phrase may seem incongruous, it actually describes the benefit to the patient accurately, because the patient is distracted from the premonition and preoccupation which the unknown brings to an ill person. To date, 146 original works of art have been donated or loaned to Nashville General Hospital foundation for the therapeutic benefit of patients.