PWS WH.docx

Attachment 2

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Title: Healthy Teaching Kitchen Program, Nutrition and Food Service, VISN 1 Connecticut and VISN 4 Philadelphia VA Healthcare facility

1. BACKGROUND

FY 23 Nutrition and Food Service develop the new initiative; Healthy Teaching Kitchen Live Dietitian in Your Kitchen this is a rural community telehealth nutrition education program with the goal to reduce A1C% in the rural Connecticut and Philadelphia catchment areas. Veterans will participate in a 12-week program that will provide them a free 6-week meal kit along with nutrition education, coaching, recipes, cooking classes/instruction led by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Veterans will learn how to control blood sugars by following a consistent carbohydrate diet with a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and spices. This program will guide Veterans through food safety, storage, cleanup, grocery shopping tips, time saving kitchen hacks, a variety of cooking techniques and portion control. Not only does HTK provide participants with important nutrition education, but the program’s foundation is built on providing Veterans with the hands-on skills that will allow them to properly implement these healthy eating concepts.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist will reach rural Veterans who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or diabetes that live within Connecticut or the Philadelphia, PA rural areas. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist will lead classes that will provide the Rural Veteran not only nutrition education but cooking skills on how to cook fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins by adding a variety of spices for flavor, to transform nutritious ingredients into delicious carbohydrate-controlled dishes that will help keep their blood sugars under better control and help them lose weight.

Live Dietitian in Your Kitchen in a 12-week program that will provide Veterans with a free 6-week meal kit along with nutrition education, coaching, recipes, cooking classes/instruction led by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Veterans will also receive a 1 hr. personalized Nutrition Assessment prior to the classes beginning.

Diabetes self-management education, including the Department of Veterans Affairs “Healthy Teaching Kitchen” (HTK) program has been shown in clinical research to significantly lower A1C % (over 1%) in Veterans who participate with frequency in this program. Not only does HTK provide participants with important nutrition education, but the program’s foundation is built on providing Veterans with the hands-on skills that will allow them to properly implement these healthy eating concepts. Using telehealth, this HTK will bring a live Dietitian into the Veteran’s rural kitchen to teach them how to cook and fuel their bodies with healthy foods Rural communities continue to be a concern because of the lack of access to a variety of services, the risk factors that are prevalent in those areas and it being more challenging for them to obtain and consume healthy foods. Programs that collaborate effective clinical partnerships (between the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Physician) build community-based support for people with diabetes. Telehealth allows Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’s to connect with rural patients in unique ways where they can be seen virtually to teach patients how to eat and cook healthy.

3. CONTRACT TYPE

This is a firm-fixed-price contract.

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The contract shall cover services for a period of 12 months from Date of Award.

5. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The tasks under this PWS shall be performed within Connecticut or the Philadelphia, PA rural areas.

6. TRAVEL

The Government does not anticipate travel under this effort.

FY 2023 Project Proposal

I. Purpose and Objectives A healthy lifestyle is important and healthy foods improve the way that you feel. Through telehealth, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist will teach rural Veterans who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or diabetes that live within Connecticut or the Philadelphia, PA rural areas how to better manage their blood glucose levels with healthier cooking and eating. They will transform nutritious ingredients into delicious carbohydrate-controlled dishes that will help keep their blood sugars under better control and help them lose weight.

The following will be reviewed during the study to monitor trends in A1C, weight, eating behaviors:

· Nutrition Assessment and PHI

· Pre and Post Class Nutrition Survey on eating behaviors – to look at eating trends pre and post class.

· A1C will be taken prior to the class beginning, then also at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months.

· Weights that will be taken prior to the class beginning, then also at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months.

· Diabetes prescription medication use will be reviewed prior to the class starting and then again at the end of 6 months.

II. Design and Planned Activities in FY23 Registered Dietitian Nutritionist will reach rural Veterans who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or diabetes that live within Connecticut or the Philadelphia, PA rural areas. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist will lead classes that will provide the Rural Veteran not only nutrition education but cooking skills on how to cook fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins by adding a variety of spices for flavor, to transform nutritious ingredients into delicious carbohydrate-controlled dishes that will help keep their blood sugars under better control and help them lose weight.

Live Dietitian in Your Kitchen is a 12-week program that will provide Veterans with a free 6-week meal kit along with nutrition education, coaching, recipes, cooking classes/instruction led by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Veterans will also receive a 1 hr. personalized Nutrition Assessment prior to the classes beginning.

· Prior to Class 1

· 1 hr. Nutrition Assessment prior to the classes beginning – include PHI.

· Get a current A1C - (must be within 1 month of starting the class)

· A1C will also be taken at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months.

· Get a current weight - (must be within 1 month of starting the class)

· Weights will also be taken at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months.

· Get a listing of current diabetes prescription use

· Medication use will be reviewed at the end of 6 months.

· Welcome packet –VA Shopping Cooler Bag, Food Thermometer, food chopper, 2 pot-holders, measuring cups, measuring spoons, cutting board/mat, garlic press, spices, diabetes portion plate, HTK Cookbook – Garden to Table.

· Pre-Class Nutrition Survey on eating behaviors.

· Toolkit - Handouts

· HTK Cooking Packet (includes food safety, cooking history, knife safety, kitchen organization, portion control, plant-based eating, shopping/meal planning tips, label reading)

· Blood glucose log

· Food diary

· Goal Tracking Worksheets

· Other information

· The HTK Program will consist of a 12-week program.

· Class 1 and Class 2 - Introduction

· Review Goal and Objectives, how to view the HTK videos, where to find the recipes, how to upload photos of foods created etc.

· PHI Whole Health Assessment

· Food Safety/Storage/ Clean Up

· Grocery Shopping Tips

· Health Benefits of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and spices

· How to count Carbohydrates – Consistent Carbohydrate Diet

· Food Allergies

· Meal planning techniques

· Time-saving kitchen hacks and tips

· How to use cooking equipment

· Class 3 through Class 8 – HTK Cooking Classes

· Meal Kit (for 6 weeks) will be delivered free to the Veteran’s home weekly

· Recipes

· One-on-one virtual cooking class

· HTK Classes - “How to Cook” video that will be viewable as often as they would like to watch it

· Watch cooking classes as often as needed

· Demos and classes are fun, interactive and come with all the ingredients to create a delicious healthy meal

· Upload pictures or prepared meals

· Class 9 through Class 12 - Sustainability

· Grocery shopping will be done by each Veteran

· Recipes

· One-on-one virtual cooking class

· HTK Classes - “How to Cook” video that will be viewable as often as they would like to watch it

· Watch cooking classes as often as needed

· Demos and classes are fun, interactive and come with all the ingredients to create a delicious healthy meal

· Upload pictures or prepared meals

· Post-Class Nutrition Survey on eating behaviors.

· Get a current A1C - (A1C was taken within 1 month of starting the class)

· A1C will also be taken at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months.

· Get a current weight

· Weights will also be taken at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months.

· Get a listing of current diabetes prescription use

· Medication use will be reviewed at the end of 6 months.

III. Measurement Plan of Impact on Key Rural Veteran Outcomes There will be a total of 4 cohort classes that will be a total of 12 weeks each to equal 1 year for the program. Each class will consist of up to 25 Veterans from Connecticut and Philadelphia, PA who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, or diabetes.

The Live Dietitian in Your Kitchen Program will offer evidence-based prevention and chronic disease management for metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and diabetes with sustainability of A1C control, weight loss and decreased prescription use. The projects impact for the rural Veterans will be measured and evaluated by the following:

· Pre and Post Nutrition Survey Results (increased consumption of healthy foods consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, spices, and water intake.

· Weight loss during the program and sustainability over 6 months

· Weights will also be taken at 3 months/week 13 and 6 months

· Reduced A1C values during the program and sustainability over 6 months

· Tracking A1C Within 1 month of starting the program, around 3 months/week 13 and at 6 months

· Decreased Diabetes Prescription use during the program and sustainability over 6 months

· listing of current diabetes prescription use/Medication use will be reviewed at the end of 6 months.

· Increased Health-Related Quality of Life – i.e., reduced visits to the physician, reduced hospitalizations, increased exercise etc.

· Tracking the # of Views of the video HTK on HTK Cooking Class Site

IV. Products/Deliverables There will be a total of 4 cohort classes that will be a total of 12 weeks each to equal 1 year for the program. Each class will consist of up to 25 Veterans from Connecticut and Philadelphia, PA area who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, or diabetes.