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What Can Be Done?
Nutrition practices that identify patients with or at risk for malnutrition by screening and assessing nutritional status, and replenishing nutrition when needed, can yield remarkable results. For individuals who are undernourished, nutrition interventions are shown to reduce complications and improve mortality.
Not every patient in every health care setting needs nutrition intervention. How do health care providers know which patients are at risk for the increased morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition so they can target their interventions to those who can benefit from them? A tiered approach is most cost effective.
- First, use a screening tool to identify which patients have or are at risk for malnutrition.
- Second, use an assessment tool to fully evaluate patients with or at risk of malnutrition.
- Third, develop a nutrition intervention plan for those with confirmed malnutrition and those who would benefit from early intervention.
Are Your Patients Well Nourished?
Patients suffering from malnutrition are often not screened properly for nutritional status and are not provided with sufficient nutritional support. Nutritional screening is usually a quick and easy questioning process that determines a patient’s level of risk for malnutrition.
Essential Assessment
Poor nutrition or malnutrition must be evaluated. Thorough assessments can be completed efficiently to assist in designing appropriate nutrition care plans.
Nutrition Management
Nutrition interventions are shown to reduce risks for infections, delayed wound healing, complications, and mortality. Improved nutritional status can cut costs of care while improving the patient’s quality of life.