Enteral Nutrition Overview.

Enteral nutrition (EN) provides critical macro and micronutrients to individuals who cannot maintain sufficient oral intake to meet their nutritional needs. EN is most commonly required for neurological conditions that impair swallow function, such as stroke, amytrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. An inability to swallow due to mechanical ventilation and altered mental status are also common conditions that necessitate the use of EN.

Coding for Malnutrition in the Hospital: Does It Change Reimbursement?

Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) is prevalent in the acute care setting, affecting up to 50% of hospitalized patients. PCM is associated with poor outcomes, including increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, hospital readmission rates, incidence of pressure injuries and nosocomial infections, and mortality. PCM is a financial burden on the healthcare system through direct costs related to treatment as well as indirect costs related to poorer outcomes and complications.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Revised 2019 Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Clinical Nutrition Management.

Clinical nutrition management (CNM) encompasses the varied roles of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) with administrative responsibilities for clinical nutrition services within an organization. Although RDNs in CNM are typically employed in acute care, they are also employed in settings where management of nutrition services is required, such as foodservice departments, ambulatory clinics, telehealth services, public health organizations, post-acute and long-term care, rehabilitation, and correctional facilities, or specialty departments, for example, dialysis units or cancer centers. RDNs in CNM aim to create work environments that support high-quality customer-centered care, attract and retain talented staff, and foster an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation.

Malnutrition definitions in clinical practice: To be E43 or not to be?

Malnutrition is a disease that imposes a significant healthcare cost burden in the United States, especially when left undiagnosed and untreated for an extended period of time. This article discusses traditional malnutrition diagnostic criteria for adults and why registered dietitian nutritionists and physicians should no longer use these criteria to determine nutrition status. It concludes with the malnutrition clinical characteristics currently accepted in the United States and globally, with implications for practice.

Nutrition management for the patient requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation are often medically complex and present with a wide range of pulmonary conditions, including neuromuscular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases, and chronic critical illness. These patients present the nutrition support professional with many challenges. However, accurate nutrition assessment, timely and effective nutrition interventions, and careful monitoring will help patients meet their medical and nutrition goals.

Nutrition management of pressure ulcers.

Despite our knowledge of how to prevent pressure ulcers, and improvements in treatment, pressure ulcers remain prevalent and impose a significant burden on financial and labor resources in the healthcare industry. Although there is no known role for specific nutrients in the prevention of pressure ulcers, undernutrition is a risk factor, and nutrition therapy plays a crucial role in pressure ulcer treatment. Limitations in research make it difficult to develop evidence-based nutrition guidelines, so it is important that clinicians conduct a comprehensive assessment that includes weight and intake history, biochemical data, and comorbidities as well as symptoms that may affect the intake, absorption, or excretion of nutrients.