CHAPTER 05 | Overview of Body Systems and Medical Nutrition Therapy Interventions
frequent requests. Tremors or paralysis may make it difficult for a client to use utensils. Use of adapted utensils may help the clients eat by themselves.
Dysphagia may make eating certain consistencies of food difficult. Accommodating these requests can be challenging and time- consuming for foodservice staff. Collaboration between healthcare professionals, foodservice staff, and the client can help develop strategies to manage these challenges and ensure appropriate nutrition.
With all these body systems that require MNT, all nutrition care should be completed in consultation with the RDN or NDTR.
Chapter Summary
Clinical nutrition is a complex part of the CDM, CFPP’s role. Many different conditions of the human body directly affect a client’s ability to eat, drink, and maintain adequate nutrition and hydration. The loss of the ability to chew or swallow prevents a client from eating normal foods/liquids and modifications must be made. Most organs of the human body are involved in the process of digestion and absorption. Any illness that affects these organs diminishes the body’s ability to process nutrients properly, which affects overall health and wellness. Clients can also lose the ability to feed themselves due to vision loss or the loss of upper extremities. The loss of cognitive function can also affect the ability to remember to eat and know how to eat. The loss of any of these functions can lead to inadequate nutrition and hydration. The CDM, CFPP, along with the interdisciplinary team, is directly involved in assessing problems and recommending treatment and care plans. The manager is also responsible for communicating with the RDN or NDTR and provider as needed. The manager has the additional role of ensuring the culinary staff is managing the specific client needs appropriately. The responsibility of the manager is a great one and has a significant impact on the health, wellness, and safety of the clients served.
Many different conditions of the human body directly affect a client’s ability to eat, drink, and maintain adequate nutrition and hydration.
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Nutrition Fundamentals and Medical Nutrition Therapy