Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care - How We Made It Work

Time: 12:00 - 13:00 EST

Speakers: Malnutrition Screening Working Group at St Michael’s Hospital

St Michael’s Hospital (SMH) is a 500-bed acute/quaternary care hospital located in the core of Toronto. In November 2017, SMH began implementation of the Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (INPAC). Approximately 1200 in-patients a month are screened using the Canadian Nutrition Screen Tool (CNST) with about a quarter of patients screening positive for being at nutrition risk. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) is completed by Registered Dietitians (RDs) on approximately 60% of patients with positive screens. The webinar will communicate the SMH journey from the initial steps taken by the Registered Dietitians’ Practice Council to the inclusion of many different health disciplines in implementing INPAC at St. Michael’s Hospital. Information on the screening and management process and identified challenges will be presented, as well as information about the implementation of a medical directive allowing RDs to make and communicate a diagnosis of malnutrition; engagement with volunteers to facilitate bedside meal assistance; red placemats as a bedside trigger for malnutrition; and optimization of existing resources. The webinar will also briefly explore on-going nutrition screening for specialized populations not targeted by INPAC such as patients with cystic fibrosis, mental health challenges or those receiving hemodialysis.

About the Speakers:

The presenters are members of the Malnutrition Screening Working Group at St Michael’s Hospital. The initial energy and focus came from the Registered Dietitians Practice Council, the governance body of RDs at SMH. Malnutrition evolved to a corporate level through connection with the Senior Friendly Hospital Initiative. Presenters are RDs, Dietetic Assistants, food service staff, an RD Practice Manager and a research coordinator who lead various aspects of the implementation of the Malnutrition Screening initiative at St. Michael’s Hospital. 

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