Northwell Health and Instacart Health Partner to Improve Maternal Health and Food Access

Northwell Health, the largest healthcare system in New York State, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Instacart Health to expand access to nutritious food, with a particular focus on supporting expectant mothers in communities facing longstanding disparities in maternal care. This innovative collaboration aims to address the critical issue of food insecurity and its impact on maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black and Brown women.

Empowering Expectant Mothers with Nutritious Choices

Integrating Instacart Health Tools into Maternal Care

The first program to launch under this partnership will integrate Instacart Health tools into Northwell's Center for Maternal Health Maternal Outcomes and Morbidity Collaborative (MOMS). This initiative targets individuals who are food insecure, as well as the maternal health of Black and Brown women, addressing the longstanding disparities in this critical area. By leveraging Instacart Health's innovative platform, Northwell patients will have access to a range of resources and support to improve their access to nutritious foods during pregnancy.

Healthy Choices Storefront and Fresh Funds

Through Northwell's Healthy Choices Storefront on Instacart, expectant mothers can utilize Instacart Health's Fresh Funds feature, which provides category-specific online grocery stipends. These funds can be used to purchase a variety of healthy items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh and frozen seafood, and several yogurt varieties. This initiative aims to empower expectant mothers with the resources they need to make informed and nutritious choices during their pregnancies.

Comprehensive Nutrition Guidance and Support

In addition to the digital tools and resources, Northwell is also providing expectant mothers with personalized nutrition guidance and support throughout their pregnancies. This holistic approach ensures that mothers-to-be not only have access to nutritious foods but also receive the necessary education and counseling to make informed decisions about their health and the well-being of their unborn children.

Raising Health and Community Wellness

"Raising health is more than the care Northwell provides in our hospitals and doctors' offices," said Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH and SVP of Northwell's Office of Community Wellness and Population Health. "It's also about how we raise up the people in our communities and how we raise our expectations of what health can be, which is why Northwell contributes more than billion in community benefit annually. The collaboration with Instacart is part of our comprehensive community health effort and will provide tools and resources to access nutritious foods for our staff, patients, and communities."

Expanding Access to Nutritious Food

This partnership between Northwell Health and Instacart Health is a significant step forward in addressing the critical issue of food insecurity and its impact on maternal health. By integrating Instacart Health's innovative tools and resources into Northwell's maternal care programs, the initiative aims to empower expectant mothers with the knowledge, support, and access to nutritious foods they need to ensure the best possible outcomes for themselves and their unborn children.