The registered dietitians (RDs) of the Department of Clinical Nutrition provide a wide range of services for patients of all ages in both inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Good nutrition helps promote appropriate growth, development and general well being for all children. It has been proven that children, especially those with special health care needs, benefit from having good nutritional status. They are apt to have fewer illness and less complications from illness, medical treatments and surgery.
Consequently, all patients admitted to the hospital are screened for nutritional risk by the nursing staff. If children are found to be at nutritional risk. they are referred to Clinical Nutrition. All patients admitted to an intensive care unit are considered to be at nutritional risk and are automatically seen by an RD.
A registered dietitian is a health care professional who has received specialized education and training in the field of nutrition. A minimum of a bachelor's degree in nutrition plus an internship is required with successful completion of a national registration exam. Many RDs have also completed master degree programs and subspecialty certification. Each year at least 15 hours of continuing education must be completed. The state of Illinois also requires RDs to be licensed. At many hospitals RDs are also referred to as clinical nutritionists.
Nutritional risk
Children maybe at nutritional risk if:
- Their weight for age is below the 5th percentile or over the 95th percentile on a standardized growth chart
- They are on a special diet (i.e. food allergy, diabetic, kidney, cardiac restrictions)
- TPN (total parenteral nutrition), tube feedings or special formulas are provided
- Recent unintentional weight loss has been reported
- They have difficulty chewing, eating or swallowing
RDs provide a nutritional assessment with intervention and counseling as needed and are part of the child's medical team and follow your child during their hospital stay.
Nurses, physicians and family members may also request the services of an RD at any time during a child's stay in the hospital. They are happy to discuss concerns or questions about your child's diet, growth, or special needs.
After discharge from the hospital, a child may continue to receive the services of an RD as an outpatient. The RD may work with a specific specialty area (such as digestive disorders, diabetes and kidney problems) and will follow up as part of a general outpatient clinic appointment. An outpatient appointment may also scheduled solely with our out patient dietitian by calling 1.800.KIDS DOC. Many insurance companies cover medical nutrition therapy as part of their benefits. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage.
More about the department
The Department of Clinical Nutrition has 21 RDs and 1 registered dietetic technician on staff. RDs have different areas of expertise and work with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers. Services are provided from approximately 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. six days a week. RDs are on call at all times to provide emergency assistance.