Hospital focuses on 'food as medicine'

St. Joseph's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., maintains farms on hospital grounds


St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has maintained a farm on land that was once a hospital lawn since 2010. The farm, has since expanded to include three large “hoop houses,” that provide seasonal produce for patient meals, the hospital cafeteria and local food banks and a farmer's market all year long, according to an article on the ABC News website.

A few years ago, the hospital made one of the hoop houses disability-friendly by widening the aisles and raising up the planter boxes to make it easier for a person in a wheelchair to work the soil, Rob Casalou, president and CEO of St. Joseph, said.

An exercise bike pumps water to irrigate the plants so patients with neurological disorders from the hospital can water plants by pedaling.

“We began the farm in response to health of the community and the health of our own 6,000 hospital workers,” said Casalou.

Read the article.

 

 



January 7, 2015


Topic Area: Energy Efficiency


Recent Posts

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease on the Rise

A number of states are reporting an uptick in HFMD, a highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects infants and young children.


BayCare Reveals Pagidipati Children's Hospital at St. Joseph's

It is a freestanding facility scheduled to open in 2030.


Preparing for the Hazards of Winter Weather

Winter is here and healthcare facilities must be ready for inclement weather to prevent slips and falls.


Why Identity Governance Is Becoming a Facilities Management Issue

As healthcare buildings grow more connected, weak identity controls can expose HVAC, security and other critical systems to serious risk.


Habitat Health Opens South Los Angeles PACE Center

The new center strengthens the local care infrastructure, delivering integrated medical, social and in-home care.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.