Geisinger study finds prenatal referrals improve WIC enrollment

Danville, PA - When prenatal providers directly refer pregnant patients to the WIC program, enrollment increases significantly, according to newly published Geisinger research.

The study, Direct Digital Referrals From Prenatal Care and WIC Enrollment Among Pregnant Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial, also found improvements in food security among participants.
These findings are particularly important as WIC enrollment has declined nationwide in recent years.

"Expanding access to WIC helps families obtain nutritious food-an essential step to give women and children a healthy start," said Lisa Bailey-Davis, DEd, RD, Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Geisinger Center for Women's & Children's Research. "These results show that connecting patients to trusted community programs directly from care settings can make a meaningful difference."
The research is part of Geisinger's effort to connect clinical care with community-based resources, giving patients better access to programs that support good health beyond traditional medical settings.

This work was supported by the American Heart Association through its Health Care by Food™ initiative, which focuses on advancing food-based interventions as part of health care to improve health outcomes.

Click here to read the full study.

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