Table 2. Sodium Reduction Strategies Most Often Implemented Among Hospitals Funded by Initiative, Illinois, July 2012.
| Sodium Reduction Activity | Funded (n = 8a) |
Unfunded, July 2012 (n = 21), % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2012, % | July 2012, % | ||
| Have a dialogue about the current food environment in your hospital and desire for improvements with a multidisciplinary team from the hospital. | 75 | 100 | 43 |
| Conduct an environmental scan of foods and beverages currently served and all settings in which foods and beverages are served. | 63 | 100 | 48 |
| Adopt language supporting the availability of healthful, lower-sodium food at meetings and workshops hosted by or at your hospital. | 38 | 100 | 48 |
| Include sodium information, especially major sources of sodium, as part of cardiac diet education to heart patients. | 88 | 88 | 95 |
| Place lower-sodium, more healthful options such as fruit at and around the point of purchase. | 63 | 88 | 76 |
| Label foods to identify those considered healthful. | 25 | 88 | 52 |
| Provide nutrition information in and around food service settings in the hospital (eg, table tents, signage, menu labeling, murals, brochures). | 50 | 88 | 48 |
| Establish a fast-food–free zone by disallowing outside fast-food chains to operate in your facility. | 63 | 88 | 43 |
| Prepare educational materials for patients’ families regarding the impact of sodium on blood pressure and hidden sources of sodium. | 50 | 75 | 76 |
| Incorporate nutrition information, including the importance of sodium reduction, into the hospital newsletter and other publications. | 38 | 75 | 29 |
| Partner with other community organizations on nutrition projects. | 50 | 75 | 29 |
| Communicate the business case for environmental change to hospital administrators and hospital boards of directors. | 63 | 75 | 29 |
| Assemble a core food team to assess the current hospital food environment, including what is currently available and attitudes and beliefs relating to food served in the hospital setting. | 63 | 75 | 38 |
| Display thought-provoking advertisements on vending machines and around food service settings, such as comparing a piece of fruit or 100% fruit juice with a traditional packaged snack and a message to “Choose wisely, your heart will thank you.” | 25 | 75 | 14 |
a
Two hospitals are part of the same health system; 1 survey was completed to represent strategies implemented at both hospitals.