The cascade effect of food insecurity starts small. A patient skips a dose of medicine, not because they forgot, but because they can’t spare the gas money to pick up their prescription after paying for groceries. The food they can afford is cheap, shelf-stable, and high in sodium or sugar. Over time, it worsens their blood pressure or blood sugar. They start missing appointments because their car breaks down, or they can’t take time off work. What began as a food issue quickly becomes a health issue.
For many Arkansans, food insecurity is the first domino in a chain that affects every part of their well-being. It impacts whether patients take their medicine, make it to appointments, or even have the energy to care for their families.
At Dr. Randy Walker Clinic in De Queen, staff see food access as an essential part of patient care. Their in-house food pantry reaches far beyond nutrition, helping patients address the social and economic factors that shape health every day.
“Nutrition is very, very important to our body, to our function, and when we're hungry, we don't sleep well. If we're hungry, we don't think well,” said Debbie Wisenhunt, food pantry coordinator. “If you're diabetic, your nutrition is very, very important to your health and the way it's treated.”
Screening for hunger just like any other vital sign
The clinic first identified food insecurity through its preventive-care questionnaires, which ask about housing, depression, and access to food.
Responses revealed widespread need—26 percent of Sevier County children live below the poverty line. So, the team built a system that treats hunger as a health condition worthy of intervention.
The key takeaway for providers? Screening for food insecurity can be quick and effective. Tools such as the two-question Hunger Vital Sign are validated and easily embedded into EHRs. A single “yes” can trigger a referral to a local food pantry or nutrition program.
Building a clinic-based food-pantry model
Each of Dr. Randy Walker’s clinic locations keeps pre-assembled bags ready for pickup. Nurses flag patients who report need, while staff tailor food selections for those with diabetes, hypertension, or low-sodium diets.
Wisenhunt coordinates restocking through community partnerships, including Feed Local and area churches. The clinic also provides open, take-what-you-need stations called “blessing boxes” around the county that extend care beyond clinic walls.
“We probably have over 300 Marshallese here now,” says Wisenhunt. “So we make resource guides in Spanish, Marshallese, and English so everyone can find help.”
Nutrition as preventive medicine
When food insecurity goes unaddressed, chronic disease management falters. A patient who can’t afford balanced meals is less likely to control glucose levels or adhere to medication routines.
By meeting immediate needs, the Walker Clinic’s pantry supports nutrition education, chronic-illness stability, and patient recovery altogether in one system.
Nutrition also enhances population health: consistent access to food can reduce emergency-room visits and improve mental health outcomes, particularly in rural areas where transportation is limited.
Sustaining community partnerships
Keeping shelves stocked takes collaboration. The clinic holds employee food-drive competitions, often collecting more than 5,000 items per round. Churches and schools contribute, and youth groups earn service hours delivering boxes to home-bound patients.
“We work with anybody willing to work with us,” Wisenhunt says. “It’s amazing to see how much it helps.”
These efforts have expanded food access county-wide, inspiring neighboring communities like Horatio to start their own pantries.
A replicable model for providers
Dr. Randy Walker Clinic offers a simple model for clinics wanting to follow suit:
- Add food-security questions to preventive-care or intake forms.
- Identify a referral partner (local pantry, church, school program).
- Develop an internal workflow by assigning a staff contact and tracking usage.
- Tailor food options for clinical conditions (diabetes-friendly, low-sodium).
- Measure outcomes through patient feedback and readmission trends.
Even small interventions like keeping brochures or building a referral list can help integrate social determinants of health like food insecurity into daily care.
Provider call to action
Healthcare providers can’t control every social determinant, but they can screen and connect. Adding one or two questions about food access takes seconds and can uncover barriers that impact medication adherence, child growth, or chronic-disease control.
Link patients to a local pantry, community resource, or even a blessing box.
It’s a small action that speaks volumes about patient-centered care.
“I encourage all clinics to get on board,” says Wisenhunt. “It’s an amazing feeling to see how you can affect others in the community.”
