Registered Dietitian Involvement in Interdisciplinary Rounds and its Effects on Intervention of Nutrition Support in Adult Ventilated Patients

Abstract

Study ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of Registered Dietitian involvement in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Interdisciplinary Rounds on the implementation of nutrition support compared to an ICU where no interdisciplinary rounds take place.MethodsA chart review was conducted on seventy adult mechanically ventilated patients. Differences between the number of days to initiation of nutrition support between the two groups were evaluated using the independent sample t‐test as well as the mean number of days on the ventilator and length of stay in ICU between both critical care units. A multiple regression analysis was used to predict the correlation between the time elapsed prior to initiation of tube feeding and length of stay in ICU and time spent on the ventilator.ResultsPatients in MICU where interdisciplinary rounds take place received nutrition support 0.5 days sooner (p=.033). In addition, patients who received nutrition support earlier also received two more days of nutrition (p=.104), were extubated one day sooner (p=.015), and were discharged from the MICU one day sooner (p=.023), than those patients whose nutrition support was delayed.ConclusionRegistered Dietitian involvement in interdisciplinary rounds in the ICU setting can result in earlier initiation of nutrition support, increased time on nutrition support, and decreased length of stay in the ICU.