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UPMC Passavant, Passavant Hospital Foundation and PassavantHospital Auxiliary partner to extend patient care upon discharge
- 9 hours ago
- 7 min read
The Food and Nutrition Department at UPMC Passavant lives by a mantra: food is medicine. “A simple meal can provide comfort, reduce anxiety, improve medication
adherence, and support healing,” says Justin Craver, Director of Hospitality,
Director of Food and Nutrition at UPMC Passavant.
On July 28, the department launched a program which offers patients who have a food insecurity a free, three-day supply of take-home breakfasts, lunches and dinners to ensure they have access to nutritious, convenient food immediately after discharge from the hospital. Each meal is individually packaged; the containers are packed into an easy-to-
carry cooler bag and sent home with the patient. If the patient requires a caregiver upon returning home, two days’ worth of meals can be provided to the patient and the caregiver. All completely free of charge. Typical meals consist of chicken, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables; stuffed shells and veggies; or Salisbury steak, rice, and mixed veggies.
“Providing these meals alleviates one more burden that patients may have upon returning home from the hospital so they can focus more wholly on getting better,” Craver said.
The Patient Discharge Meal Program was initiated by Craver as a way to help patients, but it also serves as a means to reduce food surplus and waste in the hospital cafeteria and kitchen, as well. Simply put, each take-home meal is safely repurposed surplus food. The department prepares an estimated 900 inpatient meals each day. Plus, it prepares enough food to fulfill another 900 daily transactions in the cafeteria.
Surplus and waste are inevitable, but Craver has found a win-win solution to reducing the surplus and waste while satisfying a real patient need.
“This project is deeply personal to me because I’ve seen firsthand how difficult the transition home from the hospital can be,” Craver said. “My grandfather spent his final years in and out of the hospital as he aged, and my aunt became his primary caregiver. Every time he was discharged from the hospital, worrying about a healthy, home-cooked meal
was an added stress during an already overwhelming time. If a program like this had existed for my grandfather, I know that he and my aunt would have been incredibly grateful for it. It’s about more than food, it’s about compassion, dignity, and ensuring that patients feel supported beyond the hospital walls. I can honestly say this is something my grandfather would have been proud of me for helping to bring to life.”
The Passavant Hospital Auxiliary, under the Passavant Hospital Foundation umbrella, funded the purchase of a new blast chiller, an additional freezer and cooler to help facilitate the program.
“Our new blast chiller can take three pans of chicken, for example, and chill them from 145° to 35° F in less than two hours, preserving the food’s quality and preventing foodborne illnesses. Once the meat is chilled, it can safely be packaged into take-home meals, then frozen or refrigerated for future use,” Craver explained.
Pictured above, left: Justin Craver, Director of Hospitality, Director of Food and Nutrition (center) with members of the UPMC Passavant Food and Nutrition Department who play an instrumental part in the new Patient Discharge Meal Program. Pictured above, right: Each take-home cooler bag containsthree days’ worth of dinners, lunches and breakfasts.
Passavant Hospital Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund makes quarterly contributions to help keep the program affordable.
“These grants are transformational,” Craver said.
Response from patients has been unanimously positive. One patient, following a two-week
hospital stay, expressed gratitude and relayed how meaningful the meals were — especially
the hospital’s signature wedding soup.
Another patient became emotional when the meals were delivered to her room upon her being discharged. She said that knowing she didn’t need to worry about cooking allowed her to focus on healing once she got home.
Craver says moments like these reinforce the department’s mantra. Pam Kusserow, MSW, LCSW, ACM-SW, Director of Care Coordination at UPMC Passavant agrees. She describes the program as a tangible way to continue care after discharge. “Our department is so happy to work with Justin’s team to provide one more resource to be used during the healing journey. The Auxiliary and the Foundation are always searching for ways to support our patients. We are so fortunate to have their partnership,”
she said.
Since the Patient Discharge Meal Program launched seven months ago, more than
1,800 meals have been sent home with patients. Craver is working to help the
program grow bigger and better, and hopes the idea spreads to other hospitals
throughout the UPMC health system. “Partnerships are a powerful way to invest in change to improve the health and well-being of our patients, their families and the communities we serve,” added Passavant Hospital Foundation President Anthony R. Savannah.
To invest in this partnership, make a donation today to impact the Passavant Hospital Foundation Patient Assistance Fund. Donations can be made on-line
at passavanthospitalfoundation.org, by scanning the QR code below, or by mailing a check payable to Passavant Hospital Foundation to 9100 Babcock Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.
8 FREE health and wellness programs sponsored by Passavant Hospital Foundation
Common Problems of the Foot and Ankle: Diagnosis and Treatment
Tues., Mar. 17 l 6 – 7:30 PM l Passavant Hospital Foundation’s Conference Center at Cumberland Woods Village William E. Saar, DO, foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon with Tri Rivers Musculoskeletal Centers, will discuss common problems of the foot and ankle, including plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, arthritis, neuromas and foot and ankle trauma, as well as treatment options.
Minutes Matter: How to Save a Life
Mon., Mar. 23 l 6 – 8 PM l Seven Fields Community Center Learn basic life support skills such as First Aid, CPR, Stop-The-Bleed ® techniques, the Heimlich maneuver, Epi-Pen and Narcan ® use, and more through easy-to-remember instructions and hands-on training. Call 412-748-3266 to enroll for free or schedule a free training session for your group or organization.
Benefits of Therapy to Prepare for Radiation Treatments
Thurs., Mar. 26 l 6 – 7 PM l Northland Public Library Arielle Herzberg, PT, DPT, CLT, CYT and Andrea Ramsey, PTA, UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, will discuss how
therapy can help you prepare for and endure radiation treatments. They will also talk about restoring strength after breast cancer treatment.
Caring for the Caregiver
Tues., Apr. 21 l 6 – 7:30 PM l Passavant Hospital
Foundation’s Conference Center at Cumberland Woods Village Family members and informal caregivers often place the needs of the people in their care ahead of their own. It is important to maintain good social support, continued health Passavant Hospital Foundation’s mission advances the health and wellness of our community through education, outreach, and grant making. We offer a variety of health seminars and support groups to promote personal well being for everybody. Each offering is free and open to all, but registration is required at 412-748-6641 or PassavantHospitalFoundation.org. maintenance, and understand what support interventions are available before burnout occurs. This class is led by Brian G. Cenci, MSN, CRNP – Expert, AOCNP, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant.
Save Your Shoulder
Thurs., Apr. 23 l 6 – 7 PM l Northland Public Library
John M. Richmond, MD, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist with Tri Rivers Musculoskeletal Centers, will discuss common shoulder conditions and injuries plus nonoperative treatments and surgical advancements.
Lung Cancer Explained
Tues., May 19 l 6 – 7:30 PM l Passavant Hospital Foundation’s
Conference Center at Cumberland Woods Village Katie Kubicek, PA-C, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UPMC Passavant, will provide an overview of lung cancer,
diagnosis and treatment. Smoking cessation will also be discussed. Physical Therapy and Conservative
Treatment for Shoulder Pain
Thurs., May 28 l 6 – 7 PM l Northland Public Library
Craig Maartmann-Moe, DPT, Cert. MDT, CSCS, UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, will share a physical therapy approach to managing common shoulder complaints, including rotatorcuff issues, tendinitis and more.
Bridge to Hope: Support Group for Families of Those with a Substance Use Disorder
This free, weekly, peer-led support group allows members to share their experiences, ideas, and successes. It meets every Wednesday at 7 PM. Another program, Beyond Bridge to Hope, is a bereavement group for those who have lost loved ones to substance abuse. It meets on the second Wednesday of each month. For details, call 412-748-5120.
Passavant Hospital Auxiliary officers, pictured left to right: President Carol Koontz; Secretary Barb Aippersbach; Treasurer Debbie Marziano; and Vice President Louise Moffett.
Passavant Hospital Auxiliary needs you! Over the past 60 years, the Passavant
Hospital Auxiliary has raised and donated more than $4 million to help
make UPMC Passavant the world-class hospital it is today. The Auxiliary works
in partnership with Passavant Hospital Foundation to help fund projects that
benefit patients, their families, and those who care for them. Through fundraisers
like the Lights of Love Tree, vendor sales, and this year’s new therapy pets calendar sale, the Auxiliary has raised money to help fund medical technology like hand-held ultrasound devices and SciFit rehabilitation machines; pediatric items like PlayStation video game equipment; and free valet parking passes for patients’ families. The auxiliary is always
looking for new members! If you’d like to serve in this capacity, call Passavant
Hospital Foundation at 412-748-6640.
Passavant Hospital Foundation awarded several grants in 2025
Passavant Hospital Foundation aligns itself with initiatives in McCandless and
Cranberry Townships supporting the patients of UPMC Passavant, patients’
families, hospital staff, and the community. Last year, the Foundation supported nine
Community Initiative Grants totaling $31,729. Some of these grants were
awarded to:
Anchorpoint Counseling Ministries
to provide a safe community of support, learning and understanding for bereaved widows and widowers.
The Butler County YMCA to support the Aquatic Safety Enhancement Initiative.
Kearns Spirituality Center to provide an affordable, convenient and supportive
place for patients’ families to stay overnight or for prolonged periods.
McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance
Authority to provide IV pump accessories and a nitrous oxide system for patients’
care in transport to UPMC Passavant.
Mars Home for Youth to help build stronger families through their MST-
Psych Family Support Program in Allegheny, Butler and Beaver Counties.
North Hills Community Outreach to address food insecurity by providing supplemental food to qualifying low- income families and individuals.
Orchardview Stables to support its horseback riding therapy program to. help improve the mental health and wellness of veterans and first responders.
Ross/West View EMS was granted an IV medication pump.
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