The purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel Electronic Health Record (EHR)-based WIC referral and care coordination program. Specifically, this program refers children to WIC and provides a secure data connection for communication between health care providers and WIC team members. The specific aims are to: 1) Better understand the WIC referral gap by using structured EHR data to explore characteristics of ~7,000 uninsured or Medicaid-covered pediatric patients ages 0 through 4 years who: (a) report existing WIC benefits, (b) are not enrolled but desire referral, and (c) those who do not desire WIC referral despite potential eligibility; 2) Determine whether EHR-based WIC referrals result in successful enrollment; and 3) Explore the impact of providing EHR access for WIC staff on care coordination, using surveys of 100 WIC parents and 40 WIC staff members.
Start Date: October 2021
ID #: CAS079
Organization: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Project Lead: Kimberly Montez
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
Keywords: Health Care, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Focus Area: Nutrition Policy & Programs
Age Groups: Pregnant women, infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 2), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)
Related Research
March 2024
Associations of Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables With Food Security and Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition support for racially and ethnically diverse populations. In 2021, the monthly cash value benefit (CVB) for the purchase of fruits and vegetables increased from $9 to $35 and was later adjusted to $24. This study investigated, by racial and ethnic groups, whether MoreJanuary 2024
WIC Fruit and Vegetable Study
The Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition was funded by Healthy Eating Research to conduct a study exploring how the policy changes in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cash value benefit (CVB), or fruit and vegetable money, during the pandemic impacted the WIC program and child access to fruits and MoreNovember 2023