LAUSR

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity (FI) increases a child's risk of adverse developmental consequences, illnesses, and hospitalizations. Growth, development, and nutrition are key concerns for pediatric cardiology patients. Through a previous QI initiative evaluating FI in our outpatient cardiology clinic, 6% of families were affected by FI, and patients with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) may be at particular risk. As severe CHD may be detected in fetal life, families undergoing fetal echocardiography may represent an especially vulnerable population for FI. As such, we launched an expanded FI screening initiative utilizing the Hunger Vital …