Inpatient Services
In-patient care is provided according to evidence-based patient care guidelines for the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Lactation Services as approved by the hospital administration and medical staff. Services provided for all patients of various ages include:
- Nutrition assessment (which may include any or all of the following: obtaining and evaluating - nutrition/feeding histories, growth, lab/test results, physical findings, drug/nutrient interactions, recommending and implementing methods for and management of nutrition support therapies, evaluating educational needs of patient and caregiver, and evaluating compliance with prescribed nutrition regimen.)
- Nutrient intake calculation and evaluation
- Nutrition education and nutrition counseling for normal nutrition, disease state management, drug/nutrient interactions, or altered feeding regimens
- Evaluation and management of parenteral and/or enteral feedings and/or nutrient supplementation under medical direction
- Menu modification
- Nutrition risk review
- Enteral formula procurement, storage, preparation, delivery and monitoring
- Lactation consultation services for patient moms
- Rental and sales of lactation equipment and supplies
- Discharge planning and referrals for community-based nutrition resources
In-patient care includes review of nutrition risk factors and prioritizing in-patients based on nutritional risk. All patients with food allergies and/or modified diet prescriptions are seen by a dietetic technician to identify food intolerances, educational needs, and to the discuss rationale of the diet modification. Dietetic Technicians complete meal rounds to include patients receiving modified diets as well as those with feeding difficulties or poor appetite/intake.
The Department of Clinical Nutrition, in conjunction with Food Services, approves all food items used for patient care including patient menu development.
