The purpose of this study is to determine if medically tailored meals provided for either 2 weeks or 4 weeks (1 meal per day) to a Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) member after hospital discharge will improve their health. Medically tailored meals (MTM) are meals that are approved by a dietitian and shown to help people with certain health conditions.
The purpose of this study is to determine if medically tailored meals provided for either 2
weeks or 4 weeks (1 meal per day) to a Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) member after
hospital discharge will improve their health. Medically tailored meals (MTM) are meals that
are approved by a dietitian and shown to help people with certain health conditions.
The Investigators propose a research study with four Specific Aims:
Specific Aim 1: To determine if MTM provided post hospitalization for 4 weeks to patients
with one or more of seven chronic health conditions will decrease depression/anxiety measured
by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at 60 days in comparison to meals
provided for 2 weeks to members discharged from two hospitals.
Hypothesis 1: Patients receiving meals for 4 weeks will have a clinically significant
increase in their HADS score at 60 days compared to those receiving meals for 2 weeks.
Specific Aim 2: To determine if MTM provided for 4 weeks to patients with one or more of
seven chronic health conditions post hospitalization will improve general well-being and
functional status measured by Katz's Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
Hypothesis 2: Patients receiving meals for 4 weeks will have a clinically significant
increase in their sense of well-being and ADLs at 60 days compared to those receiving meals
for 2 weeks.
Specific Aim 3: To determine if MTM provided for 4 weeks to patients with one or more of
seven chronic health conditions post hospitalization will decrease a composite outcome of
rehospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits at 60 days in comparison to: a) meals
provided for 2 weeks to members discharged from two hospitals; and b) a concurrent
prospective control group not receiving meals at two other KPCO-contracted hospitals.
Hypothesis 3: Patients receiving meals for 4 weeks will have a decreased composite rate of
rehospitalizations and ED visits at 60 days compared to those receiving meals for 2 weeks or
the non-randomized control group.
Specific Aim 4: To determine the feasibility, acceptability and scalability of the Meals
Matter Program to KP members, their households, and hospital leadership and staff.
Other: Medically Tailored Meals
Compare 2 and 4 weeks of meal delivery
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 or older, with no upper age limit
- Hospitalized at Saint Joseph Hospital or Good Samaritan Medical Center with the
anticipation that they will be discharged home
- Member of a KP health plan
- Have one or more of the following conditions:
- Heart failure
- Cancer
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD)/chronic renal disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Chronic liver disease/cirrhosis
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient discharged to a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or another setting
where meals are institutionally provided
- Patient has a health condition which is incompatible with the diet choices offered by
Project Angel Heart (PAH - food service vendor)
- Patient refuses the type of meal best for their medical condition
- Patient has dementia
- Patient is pregnant or hospitalized peri-partum
- Patient is an active participant in a PAH program or another meal program
- Patient is unable to speak English or Spanish
- PAH unable to deliver meals due to patient not being in PAH service area
- Patient was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours of admission
- Patient whose household member has enrolled in the Meals MATTER study
- Patient discharged to hospice care
St Joseph's Hospital
Denver, Colorado, United States
Good Samaritan Medical Center
Lafayette, Colorado, United States