Home-Delivered Meals Help Braven Health℠ Patients

Nutrition plays an important role in a patient's recovery, healing and management of a chronic condition after discharge from a hospital stay. Poor nutrition can hinder recovery and lead to hospital readmissions. But, it can be difficult for patients to get proper nutrition once they're back home.

When patients are discharged, they may find it difficult to manage their health and perform daily tasks like cooking a meal or even knowing how to eat a healthy diet. That's why Braven Health provides members with meals — delivered right to their door — as part of their benefits. The fully-prepared, nutritious meals are provided by Mom's Meals — a company with more than 20 years of experience in nutrition and health.

How it Works

The Mom's Meals program makes it as simple as possible for Braven Health patients. Care managers work directly with patients, before they get discharged, to identify their dietary needs and coordinate meal delivery to their homes.

Mary Cathryn Story, Supervisor of Braven Health Case Management, has seen the program work for these members.

“Our members love the Mom's Meals program. We had one member who was getting discharged to a boarding home since he was getting evicted. Mom's Meals was able to provide food that he could rely on. They even worked with him to schedule his deliveries appropriately since he only had a small refrigerator in a boarding house.”

Hackensack Meridian Health also refers members to the program with positive results.

“This program provides support not only to the members but to their families. We have seen families who appreciate the resource. They don't have to worry about getting meals to their loved ones,” says Casey Singley, RN, Senior Care Coordinator at Hackensack Meridian Health.

Giving patients nutritious meals after leaving the hospital is important for their health and well-being. It ensures they have a healthy diet so they can regain their strength and energy for quicker and better recoveries, and it allows them to focus on healing, instead of worrying about what's for dinner.

“Members appreciate the convenience of home-delivered meals after a hospital stay, especially since they are unable to prepare their own meals after discharge. It's one less thing they have to worry about. They are usually surprised this is even available as a service. All in all, members are happy,” says Story.

“We really hope patients take advantage of this program to help them get well,” says Singley.

Physicians and other health care professionals who know a patient who can benefit from Mom's Meals or would like additional information can contact the Braven Health Care Management team at 1-888-621-5894 (TTY 711), weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time.

Services are not an insurance program and may be discontinued at any time.

Source:
Budget Impact of a Comprehensive Nutrition-Focused Quality Improvement Program for Malnourished Hospitalized Patients, American Health and Drug Benefits, July 2017, Vol 10, No 5