From screening to strategy: a multidisciplinary nutrition pathway to combat hospital acquired malnutrition
- Journal of Anesthesia & Critical Care: Open Access
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Khaled Sewify,¹ Ahmed Abutaleb,¹ Abdulah Almulhem,¹ Wael Gomaa,¹ Shamini Segerun,² Ruena Cartin,² Simi Bindhumon,³ Khloud AlOtabi,³ Omar Alzuwayed,⁴ Yousef Sewify⁵
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Abstract
Hospital-acquired malnutrition (HAM) represents an under-recognized condition which negatively impacts recovery time and survival rates and extends hospital stays for patients. This study describes the creation and execution of a structured evidence-based Nutrition Support Pathway which combines the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) with a dedicated Nutrition Care Team (NCT) and an advanced Nutrition Support Professional Team (NSPT). The proposed protocol establishes standardized procedures for identifying at-risk patients and their subsequent referral and intervention process to enhance both patient outcomes and care efficiency. The pathway proved successful in a tertiary care hospital and now serves as a model for wider implementation.
Keywords
nutrition pathway
