Toronto hospital begins "prescribing money" to patients​

Poverty is a significant risk factor for poor health and a Toronto hospital has launched a unique project to address it. It allows for the prescription of money.

Patients at St. Michael's hospital in downtown Toronto who receive a prescription for income security from doctors in the hospital's family health team are sent to a specialist - in this case, a full time health promotor focused on improving patients' financial situations.

You can read more about the project in this Toronto Star article.

We've posted more information at Primary care interventions in poverty where you'll find a TEDx talk by Dr. Gary Bloch and links to the clinical tools for primary care he developed.