Automating a Tube Feeding and Nourishment Ordering Process

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To state how automation of tube feeding and nourishment ordering is beneficial.Providing patients with tube feedings and/or between meal nourishments is an important aspect of nutritional care. Since frequent changes occur in patient admissions, transfers, discharges and individual patient requests, the process of ordering, labeling and delivering nourishments can be costly in the use of staff and food resources. Using patient data stored in a computer network, Food and Nutrition Services (FANS) staff in a large tertiary care hospital improved the process of ordering and labeling tube feedings and nourishment items. They designed and wrote a computer software program to display all current diet orders for a patient on a single screen, along with the patient's room number, registration number, admission date, birth date, and service. Tube feedings and nourishment items can then be quickly selected from lists of items organized by food type (beverage, sandwich, specialty drinks, etc.). The items can be modified or additional ones typed in as needed. Different items can be selected for alternating days, depending on the needs of the patient. For patients who do not require individualized orders, there are standardized sets of nourishment items available. This information is regularly downloaded and stored in a computer database, so when staff are ready to print labels prior to delivery, they are bring the most current information. Nourishments can also be printed on the daily diet lists used by FANS staff for reference throughout the workday. The automated process of ordering tube feedings and nourishments is very efficient. It has decreased the number of manual steps from six to two. Communication has been enhanced, the accuracy of food deliveries has increased, and dietitians and dietetic assistants are able to focus time on other aspects of patient care.