Organization and management of nutritional care process in hospitalized patients: the model implemented in the "Hospital Universitario de La Ribera"

Abstract

Hospital malnutrition shows a high prevalence and is an indicator of poor quality care. The intervention of different professionals involved in the nutritional care process performing uncoordinated and with different criteria is one of the reasons that contribute to perpetuate this situation. To describe the model implemented in the "Hospital Universitario de la Ribera" for providing nutritional care to patients. The model implemented in the "Hospital Universitario de la Ribera" is characterized by the coordinated intervention of the health professionals performing with the common goal of providing patients' nutritional care. The nutrition plan is carried out comprehensively from malnutrition identification to the establishment of the nutrition plan and monitoring as well as its adaptation to the patient's progress and discharge recommendations. The key elements to achieve this goal are described: the Nutrition Department and the Pharmacy Department, the information system available that allows to share and exchange information effectively and a dynamic and interdisciplinary Commission of Nutrition and Dietetics. At the "Hospital Universitario de la Ribera" an organization that ensures continuity of care throughout the nutritional process and its connection with primary health care has been established.