Course Description:

Malnutrition is a major contributor to decreased function, decreased quality of life, increased readmission and length of hospital stay, decreased wound healing, increased surgical recovery time, increased complications and increased morbidity and mortality.  Consequently, Registered Dietitians and their interprofessional team members are faced with multiple challenges to identify and address the complex needs of patients and residents who have signs and symptoms of malnutrition.

This course will identify the multiple nutritional risks of older adults and will empower dietitians and their interprofessional team members with tools to identify and address clinical outcomes associated with malnutrition. A special focus will be added for elders who are at greater risk due to the increased challenges of co-morbidities with the resulting highest rates of malnutrition.  Regulatory requirements by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will also be shared to best equip the dietary team with tools to assure nutritional compliance.