The Clinical Nutrition Department: Roles and Services

Within medical institutions, the Clinical Nutrition Unit is responsible for tasks that involve clinical nutrition experts participating in creating and formulating clinical nutrition programs and plans for patients. The nutritionist is considered a member of the treating team and a part of it that assists doctors in reaching their goal, which is patient recovery. The nutrition unit offers many specialized nutrition plans and programs aimed at treating obesity and underweight. Additionally, there is a clinical nutrition specialty related to developing dietary programs for various acute and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart, cardiovascular, and arterial diseases, as well as kidney and liver diseases. There are also nutrition specialists who create clinical nutrition programs for pregnant women, the elderly, and children.

Importance of the Clinical Nutrition Unit within Hospitals

• Supporting the general health of patients and assisting them in following a healthy lifestyle.
• Preventing negative effects and complications that may result from some diseases and reducing their severity. Following a healthy nutritional program established by a specialist doctor during the treatment period contributes significantly to reducing complications that may threaten the patient's life.
• Assisting in the recovery of some health conditions and treating digestive system disorders.

The Role of a Nutritionist in the Clinical Nutrition Unit

The duties and management of a nutritionist in the clinical nutrition unit vary. Hospitals are among the largest places in urgent need of a nutritionist, but of course, we must not overlook the importance of their role in many other locations. One of the most important roles of a nutritionist in hospitals is collaborating with all members of the medical team, including doctors, to achieve their goal of patient recovery. The nutritionist’s role with the medical team includes:

• Periodic evaluation of the patient and their nutritional status.
• Developing a program and plan representing a healthy diet that fits the patient's condition.
• Providing a schedule that includes clinical nutrition used as a reference for the work team.
• Providing advice and consultations to various patients.
• Monitoring and following up with patients suffering from chronic symptoms such as liver disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, heart, and kidney disease, and developing long-term healthy nutritional programs they can adhere to.
• Understanding the medical history related to nutrition, as well as the dietary habits and traditions of each patient, then establishing a new pattern and style suitable for their health condition.
• Providing patients with advice, guidance, and information regarding foods and the important nutrients they contain, helping patients identify suitable foods to choose and buy after leaving the hospital, while providing available market alternatives.
• Following up on the progress of the nutrition specialty work within clinical units.
• Training nutrition technicians and determining their tasks within hospitals.

The Role of a Nutritionist in Maternal and Child Care Units

• Following up with mothers and pregnant women regarding their appropriate nutritional status.
• Monitoring infants and newborns and determining the foods that suit them.

The Specialist’s Role in Nursing Homes

• Formulating and drafting correct nutrition programs suitable for the health status of the elderly and whether they suffer from any chronic diseases.

The Role of a Nutritionist in Schools and Universities

• Establishing nutritional programs and systems that fit the needs of youth and adolescents during that period to protect them from the risk of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes.

Clinical Nutrition Programs in the Clinical Nutrition Unit

There are many clinical nutrition programs that vary based on the case. Here is a list of the most important clinical nutrition programs within clinical units:

• Clinical nutrition program for obesity, underweight, and weight maintenance: One of the nutritionist's key roles is eliminating excess weight, treating underweight, and maintaining the ideal weight after reaching it.
• Clinical nutrition program for children: Conducted through periodic monitoring of the child's health status, weight, and height, providing solutions for some problems related to obesity and malnutrition, and drafting a nutritional plan and program suitable for their age.
• Clinical nutrition programs for pregnant women and postpartum mothers: Conducted by knowing the mother's weight during pregnancy and establishing a diet suitable for her condition, including all the iron, calcium, and folic acid the body needs. It also includes establishing an appropriate diet for mothers during breastfeeding to positively impact both the mother's and the child's health.
• Program for obesity, malnutrition cases, and chronic disease cases.

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