Nutrition support therapy refers to any method used to deliver commercially prepared nutrient mixtures via an enteral tube or parenteral catheter in order to supplement nutritional needs for those unable to eat via traditional methods, such as illness or injury.
Family physicians can help diagnose whether their patient is malnourished by calculating their resting metabolic rate and working closely with dietitians to ascertain caloric needs and select an appropriate tube feeding formula.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who work under the direction of physicians to provide patients with care. PAs possess diverse roles and responsibilities and may work in both primary and specialty healthcare settings.
Nutrition is an integral component of most diseases, so PA training programs must include nutrition-focused curriculum elements. This can increase students’ nutrition knowledge, self-perceived proficiency and attitudes regarding diet and lifestyle practices.
The PA Foundation Nutrition Outreach Fellowship equips practicing PAs with the resources and training they need to effectively share nutritional information with their patients. Camille Paul, PA-C from an outpatient endocrinology practice found that both her patients and community were eager to understand more about food’s influence on health; so she hosted Zoom sessions tailored specifically for this audience; these covered everything from how fat affects lipids to low glycemic load diets as an approach.
Dietitian
Dietitians are healthcare professionals regulated by professional bodies who use scientific research on food, health and disease to ensure people consume a diet rich in nutrients that promote optimal health. Dietitians offer nutritional support for conditions including diabetes, obesity and gastrointestinal diseases; as well as helping with issues like high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Dietitians collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists in clinical settings. They can create a healthy eating plan tailored to your current eating habits and medical history.
Dietitians provide their patients with care while also managing food service operations or conducting nutrition support research, which may include evaluating meal plans or investigating biochemical interactions between nutrients and their bodies. Dietitians are regulated by the Health Professions Council of Canada (HCPC) and must maintain their registration through mandatory continuing education requirements.
Nutritionist
Nutritionists work collaboratively with healthcare professionals to enhance patients’ overall care. Most possess bachelor’s degrees in nutritional science or related subject, and may hold additional advanced degrees such as masters or doctorates degrees.
They provide assistance to patients in understanding and following dietary guidelines, including preparing and administering parenteral nutrition formulations. In addition, these professionals conduct clinical research studies and participate in education activities for other health professionals, students, patients and caregivers.
Nutritional support is an integral element of patient care in intensive care units (ICU). A thorough nutritional evaluation can have a direct impact on healing outcomes and associated healthcare costs, and nutritionists offer specialist knowledge in nutritional strategies as well as suggesting changes to patient plans based on response data. Nutritional assistance may be provided via oral, enteral or parenteral means.
Pharmacist
Nutrition support pharmacists (NSPs) play an integral part of multidisciplinary teams providing care to enteral and parenteral nutrition patients. NSPs assist with developing nutritionally balanced enteral and parenteral feed regimens for those unable to consume other forms of nutrition such as oral meals. Furthermore, they monitor outcomes related to parenteral nutrition treatments, provide patient education services, assist in monitoring outcomes as well as provide assistance when issues arise with medication and feeding related matters.
While pharmacists have historically focused on pharmaceutical care, new evidence demonstrates their significant contributions to patient outcomes via nutritional support services. This article delves into how today’s health policy environment supports nutrition’s vital role in providing equitable, quality US healthcare; highlights potential intersections with pharmacy practice; and examines opportunities for postgraduate nutrition certifications, training, and continuing education, giving pharmacists an edge when tackling nutrition-focused challenges. 2018. Originally published by Elsevier Ltd; All rights are reserved by Elsevier Ltd; this material may be licensed to third parties for research and teaching purposes providing they provide proper attribution.
