Gut Health: Help Your Patients Develop a Healthy Microbiome and Manage Chronic Disease

Introduction  According to the CDC, 60% of U.S. adults live with at least one chronic disease and 40% have two or more (1). Dietary approaches are a cornerstone of managing chronic health conditions. Nutrition plays…Read More

Introduction As part of the Affordable Care Act, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), highlighted the need for continuously improving the quality of patient care. One specific point of interest is an emphasis…Read More

In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration celebrated 30 years of the Food Code, a model that illustrates best practices for safe food handling in all establishments. Local, state, federal, and tribal agencies use…Read More

Common Questions/Answers Fluids and Hydration What items should be counted in a fluid restriction? All fluids consumed are counted in a fluid restriction in millileters (mL): 1 ounce = 2 Tablespoons = 30 mL 4…Read More

Nutrition screening is the process of identifying individuals who are at nutrition risk and referring those who would benefit from the nutrition care process to the registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)1. Nutrition screening relies on tools…Read More

CMS Regulations for Nursing Homes

In the world of long-term care (LTC), registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) play a critical role in ensuring the health and well-being of residents. Responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, from assessing nutritional needs and…Read More

Protein Energy Wasting (or PEW) is an incredibly common issue for individuals who have been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). When PEW goes undiagnosed or is simply not treated properly severe issues can occur…Read More

Doris is a 69 year old woman who lives in an assisted living facility and has recently had problems with “irregularity”, her polite word for constipation. She thought it was a symptom of aging, but… Read More

Critical illness such as trauma, injury, burns, wounds, pressure injuries, major surgery, or sepsis cause a stress response that can result in hypermetabolism, increased catabolism, and loss of lean body mass (LBM). This type of… Read More

Julia started a new job as the registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) at a continuing care retirement community. She noticed that the community’s assisted living and skilled nursing units each had a handful of physician orders… Read More

Ana, a registered dietitian nutritionist at a skilled nursing facility, received a consult from the facility physician for weight loss for 80-year Mabel, whose BMI is 37. Ana is new to long-term term care but… Read More