Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics

Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics was established in 2017 under the Faculty of Allied Health & Basic Sciences, Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education & Research with the aim to serve society by providing better nutritional services for quality patient care. The department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics offers dietary counseling services to inpatients and outpatients. The department has also taken an initiative to establish the Enteral Feed Section at R. L Jalappa Hospital & Research Center on 18th November 2019 which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Pro-Chancellor, SDUAHER to cater to the nutritional requirements of the patients on Ryle’s tube-based on their disease condition. The Dietician screens and assesses the patient’s nutritional status for planning a well-structured diet to meet their nutritional needs based on the disease conditions.

Dietary services are one of the most important hospitals supportive services contributing to the recovery of health and treatment outcomes, through scientifically planned therapeutic diets for inpatients. RLJH&RC is the only hospital in the Kolar district offering dietary services/counseling for inpatient and outpatient and for the patients on Ryle’s tube.

Treatments and Procedures

Inpatient Nutritional care

The dietician performs ward rounds for the inpatient including ICU, MICU, SICU, etc. on a daily basis based on the references obtained from the treating doctor. The patient is screened using the ABCD method to assess the nutritional status to modify the diet as per disease condition. Patient/patient attender is counseled regarding the diet and provided with educational material for further monitoring and follow-up.

Outpatient Nutritional care

Outpatients are referred by the treating doctor to the dietician for dietary advice. The patient is screened and assessed based on their medical diagnosis, biochemical parameters, clinical parameters, dietary recall, etc. to provide a dietary prescription. The patient and attender are counseled to follow the prescribed diet with patient information on diet material.

Facilities and Services

Weight
Management

Packing and Labelling
of feed

Feed
Receiving

Diabetes
Management

RLJ Hospital’s Enteral Feed Section under the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics provides well-planned, fresh, and hygienically prepared Ryle’s Tube feeds to the inpatient at an interval of every second hour based on their disease condition to meet their nutritional requirement. The whole process is monitored under the supervision of the Dietician to provide quality patient care. In addition to this Dietician also provides inpatient and outpatient counseling to cater to their nutritional needs.

Services offered by the department are:

Weight management
Food intolerance and allergies
High blood pressure
Peri & Post-op nutrition
Antenatal & Post-natal nutritional care
Childhood and adolescence nutrition
Healthy eating for a healthy lifestyle etc.
Diabetes management
Cardiovascular disease
Cancer nutrition
Liver disease
Kidney disease etc.

Faculties

Ms. Anjali. N M.Sc (Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics) M.B.B.S, M.D. FIPS In charge of Enteral Feed Section, RLJH&RC,NABH Co-ordinator,Dietary services and patient care

FAQs

What are good sources of protein?

Eggs are a high-quality source of protein. They are soft and can be prepared in many ways. There is cholesterol in eggs, but this cholesterol is not going to affect a person’s overall cholesterol as much as saturated fats and trans fats. Nuts are another good source of protein, but if a person has a chewing problem, you can incorporate nut kinds of butter into recipes instead. Fish, chicken, and meat are excellent protein sources and soy protein can sometimes be helpful for people who are willing to try it.

What are good and bad foods?

If you’re looking at improving true functional health, there really are no good or bad foods. Unless a person truly has to avoid some foods because of allergens or medical restrictions.

What about sugar-free or diet foods?

We advise steering away from processed diet foods because they have a number of chemical additives. Some artificial sweeteners can cause intestinal cramping. Nowadays people rely on some processed foods like frozen dinners, but it is really important for their diet to include more plain, fresh, unprocessed foods.

What kind of fat is OK to eat?

Fish, nuts, and avocadoes are a healthier source of monounsaturated fats. Trans fats found in processed foods and fried foods are considered more harmful. Dairy has saturated fat in it, but we don’t tell people to avoid milk fat. We recommend being moderate with animal-based fats such as cheese.

What is Enteral Feed Section? Where it is located?

Enteral Feed Section is a place where the feeds are prepared for the patient on Nasogastric Tube based on their diseased condition to meet their nutritional needs. It is located at the hospital main building, the First floor opposite to Chief Nursing Officer’s Office.

Do we have a provision to avail enteral feeds at RLJHRC?

Yes. There is a provision to avail the feeds at RLJH&RC.

To which patients enteral feeds is being provided?

Enteral feeds are provided to the patient on a Nasogastric tube as recommended by the treating Doctor.