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

Cleanliness Is a Measurable Outcome

By restoring the distinction between cleaning and cleanliness, managers and staffs can better protect patients from environmental pathogens.


Workplace Safety and the Role of Access Control

Workplace violence and other issues threaten patients, staff and operations, so managers need to rethink security measures and technology.


Henry Ford Hospital Celebrates Construction Milestone for Expansion Project

Crews from BTD, a joint venture created by Barton Malow, Turner Construction and Dixon Construction, are on track to complete the hospital in 2029.


How EVS Leaders Can Support Staff for Better Cleaning

Environmental services is one of the most important departments in healthcare facilities, but it can be a difficult one to manage.


Addressing Infection Prevention Staffing Gaps in Ambulatory and Procedural Care

Traditional models that are based on inpatient bed counts fail to account for the unique demands of ambulatory and procedural settings.


 
 


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.