October 23, 2024
Â鶹ӳ» Children¡¯s Hospital is taking a proactive approach to nutrition with a questionnaire that assesses a young patient¡¯s risk of malnutrition and gets them any support they may need. Photo supplied.
Story by Jason Morton
CALGARY ¡ª When it comes to a child¡¯s health, nutrition plays a critical role in recovery and development. A new initiative at Â鶹ӳ» Children¡¯s Hospital (ACH) is helping ensure kids get the nutrition support they need from the moment they arrive, thanks to a simple screening tool that¡¯s transforming patient care.
Led by Dr. Genevieve de Caen, a hospitalist, and Sharla Stoffman, a pediatric dietitian, the project introduced a routine four-question nutrition screening, performed by nurses within the first 24 hours of a child¡¯s hospital stay. This quick and easy process has already flagged several children at risk of malnutrition, connecting them to dietitians for timely interventions and better outcomes.
¡°Nurses found this screening easy to complete, and it identified children who might not have otherwise seen a dietitian during their hospital stay,¡± says Stoffman. ¡°By screening every child upon admission, the hospital ensures that no child at risk of malnutrition goes unnoticed.¡±
After a successful pilot in one unit ¡ª exceeding its target with over 75 per cent of screenings completed ¡ª the project has now expanded to a second unit, and will soon roll out to the entire hospital.
¡°Nutrition is fundamental for health and recovery,¡± says Dr. de Caen. ¡°Our goal is to give every child the best start by ensuring their nutrition needs are met early on.¡±
This proactive approach is part of Â鶹ӳ» Children¡¯s Hospital¡¯s commitment to turning research into practice, advancing care and creating a healthier future for children.
The success of the project also aligned with the theme of this year¡¯s Canadian Malnutrition Awareness Week ¡ª ACT: Advocate, Collaborate, Transform ¡ª a reminder of the impact that early action can have on health outcomes.
See more information about malnutrition in Â鶹ӳ». To learn more about comprehensive malnutrition care, join AHS¡¯s Western Canada Nutrition Day virtual event on Oct. 26. Register here.
