Fairview's Health Foods Initiative Gains International Attention

The staff at Fairview Hospital have found a unique and innovative way to bring healthy eating choices inside the walls of the hospital. The key ingredients? Strong community partnerships, a few dozen green thumbs, a dash of vision, and an extra serving of compassion.

Every Monday, Fairview Hospital hosts an indoor farmers market to make healthy, locally produced foods available to its staff, patients, and visitors. The farmers market began in June as part of Fairview's healthy and sustainable foods initiative. The hospital also uses local, organic produce in its cafeteria and patient meals. Purchasing from local sources exemplifies Fairview's commitment to its community. And its use of herbs from agricultural students at Monument Mountain High School further strengthens the link between hospital and community.

At the 2nd Annual International Conference on Healthy Food in Healthcare, Fairview Hospital received national recognition as the first hospital in Massachusetts to commit to the Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge. Fairview's voluntary commitment to serve food that is healthier for people and the environment, including food that is locally grown, encouraged other hospitals to make the Pledge. Since Fairview signed the Pledge in January, five other hospitals in the commonwealth have followed suit, according to an article in the Berkshire Eagle.

"Fairview Hospital interprets its mission of promoting a healthier community very broadly. We believe good food is good medicine for our patients and for our community and we are embracing many different avenues to set an example for other hospitals to use as well," said Doreen Hutchinson, V.P. of Operations and Chief Nurse Executive.

As an extension of its healthy and sustainable foods initiative, Fairview conducted an assessment of its food vendors and processes. The staff not only added locally grown foods to the menu, but also filtered out trans-fats from recipes, eliminated deep frying, and incorporating more whole grains. To encourage informed and healthy eating choices, nutritional facts are provided on menus, and the cafeteria priced unhealthy foods higher than healthier food choices.

Fairview Hospital also recently initiated a fresh-to-order menu for patients, which has received overwhelmingly positive response.

"We believe that we have modeled strong leadership for healthy communities and ecosystems, and Fairview Hospital is proud to contribute this not only to our patients and community, but to hospitals across the country who seek to bring this philosophy of quality to their communities as well," said Food Service Director Roger Knysh.