Mary Rutan Hospital’s scope of service to the community includes the provision of quality nutritional care by professionals both highly qualified and experienced in all areas of medical nutrition therapy. The Hospital staff includes Registered Dietitians (RD) and Diet Technicians Registered (DTR), all schooled in human nutrition, food composition, and meal management, all uniquely qualified to complement the patient’s care when diet becomes a therapy for disease management.

Clinical nutritionists are called upon inside the Hospital to complete assessments of nutritional needs, make recommendations to medical staff regarding a patient’s nutritional care plan, educate patients regarding the continuance of nutrition care upon discharge, participate in the quality control activities of the Hospital, and advise Mary Rutan Hospital Food Service. Mary Rutan nutrition clinicians also are available to other members of the healthcare team for their educational needs related to food and nutrition. Outside the Hospital, a Mary Rutan nutritionist attends to the highly specialized needs of patients in the Mad River Dialysis Center, another sees patients for physician-ordered nutrition therapy by appointment, and yet another participates in the American Diabetes Association recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education Program.

Future program expansion into the area of chronic disease management is part of the vision of Mary Rutan Hospital Clinical Nutrition Services. Organizations can arrange for a program speaker from among the clinical nutrition staff by contacting the Public Relations Office.

For more information call 592-4015 ext. 4281.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING