Dr Heidi Johnston1, Ms Yuki Ho1, Ms Keanne Langston1, Ms Louise Webley1, Ms Shannon Huxtable1, Dr Rebecca Angus1
1Gold Coast Health, Southport, Australia
Biography:
Dr Rebecca Angus is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with a research specialty. She is employed within Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service to build research capacity in allied health clinicians. Her research interests are in nutrition care, allied health model of care evaluation and research capacity building within health services with a view to enabling best-practice patient care.
Abstract:
Background:
The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards emphasize the importance of nutrition interventions for patients, including those presenting to Emergency Departments (ED). Hence, Gold Coast Health (GCH) developed a Post-ED Dietitian Outpatient Service for virtual nutritional assessments and interventions for adult patients attending our ED and Day Surgery Units (DSU) identified as at risk of malnutrition and not seen by a dietitian during their stay. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this new model of care.
Methods:
Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records for patients with a malnutrition screening tool (MST) score of ≥2 who presented to GCH ED or VDSU between Dec 2022–Sept 2024. Basic economic analysis compared service provision costs with revenue generation. After appointments, patients were sent a Patient Reported Evaluation Measure survey (PREMs) with responses analysed thematically.
Results:
Of the 13% ED/DSU patients (n=67,229/526,708) who were screened, 25% (n=17,031/67,229) were at risk of malnutrition (MST ≥2). Of patients eligible for the service, 57% (n=1522/2670) received nutrition assessment. Of those with a nutritional diagnosis, 39% (n=453/1150) were malnourished, and 36% (n=409/1150) at risk of malnutrition. Patient satisfaction was high. Key themes included: effective communication; professionalism and empathy; knowledge/expertise; positive outcomes and support. Revenue generated was sufficient to cover service provision costs.
Conclusion:
The Post-ED Dietitian Outpatient Service offers timely nutrition interventions post ED/DSU for patients at risk of malnutrition. The service has economic benefits and returns high patient satisfaction, supporting the continuation of this model of care.