Moore County, North Carolina – The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has gone paperless with the use of a new computerized health system, officials hope for better efficiency in nutrition.
Thousands of individuals were given vouchers regarding the WIC system as it has gone paperless, with the use of computerized system called the Crossroads. The federal provision of the special program is geared towards low-income pregnant women, infants, children 5 years old and below, as well as mothers who are breastfeeding. These low-income individuals need urgent care for health and nutrition. The county has started the registration through the new Crossroads system.
Moore County Health Director Robert Wittman said the new system aims for a better efficiency in nutrition in the long run. Since it’s already paperless, health attendants in urgent care clinics and health facilities do not need to spend a lot of their time in writing information on paper or charts. The new system hopes to improve the overall service to their patients.
Within North Carolina, Moore County was one of the primary counties that applied the transition. The Crossroads system started in June, and on-site nutritionist said services have improved significantly.
Nutritionist Lauren Rakes emphasized the new system leads to better efficiency in nutrition. Nutrition assessments became faster unlike before. Health care providers can now focus more on the nutrition education, instead of writing everything down on paper.
As a sort of an urgent care near me facility, families can register for the WIC system. However, not all is eligible. The income of a family must be below 185% of the United States poverty level.
Once qualified or eligible, the program will provide families with supplemental food and infant formula. They will be given free health care as well as nutrition classes for better understanding and better efficiency in nutrition, especially among the pregnant women and mothers.
Another nutritionist Susie Poppe said the WIC program will really help families in stretching out their food allowance. Low-income families could also join other programs that offer food stamps, Poppe added.
Also considered as an urgent care clinic by many low-income families, the WIC program is efficient during emergency cases. Times when food is scarce, also medication and other health care needs. Children, infants, and pregnant women are the top priorities, ensuring their health and nutritional necessities.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services funds the Crossroads program 100%. The leaders believe that the entire initiation and operation of the program will result to better efficiency in nutrition, from this moment onwards.
