2017 marks a century of nutrition and dietetics
professionals promoting health and wellness for our nation. We
in the Veterans Health Administration Nutrition and
Food Services celebrate with the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics, and take this time to reflect on our special
contributions to Veterans’ medical nutrition therapy,
inpatient meal service, and nutrition education and
counseling. I feel there is no other scientific field that so
profoundly combines our cultural, social, biological,
and environmental characteristics. Nutrition is
where we can all make a difference multiple times a day
in our lives and the world through healthy and responsible
food choices. Nutrition and Food Services provides quality
meal and supplement services to our hospitalized Veterans in
our Medical Centers. VA Registered Dietitian
Nutritionists, Dietetic Technicians, food service
professionals and others comprise a force of 8000
delivering quality nutrition care to our Veterans in our
medical centers and community based outpatient clinics. This
workforce includes 1600 Registered Dietitian
Nutritionists and 200 dietetic technicians. How far we have
come over the years! It’s a lot to fathom as we think back to
the days of paper charts, which started to transition to
electronic records as early as the 1980’s. VA’s electronic
health record has replaced other charts and records for
almost two decades. Our earliest dietetic internships
have been training generations of dietitians for over 70
years. Annually, Nutrition and Food Services welcome over 100
new students to continue our commitment to train the future
of our healthcare workforce. Our food service has evolved,
too, from tray line hand assembly, to the more
economical advanced cook-chill technology, to our new
initiative in Room Service and Veteran-centered dining
options, and now a return to more cook-serve type styles. Good
nutrition is the foundation of health, and our nutrition
professionals are leading the way. It is almost impossible to
find a health program that does not include nutrition. We’re
everywhere! Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are
members of the Patient Aligned Care Teams in the outpatient
setting. We are a core member of the Home Based Primary Care
team, visiting Veterans in their homes. We deliver most of
the weight management care for Veterans. For Veterans who
cannot eat or drink, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists provide
medical nutrition therapy for tube feeding or parenteral
nutrition, and are core members of the VA Nutrition Support
Team. The list goes on and on. In every setting, we are
nutrition diagnosticians, applying the Nutrition Care
Process for many years and requiring its use and
documentation through national policy. This process includes a
thorough nutrition assessment with the patient, nutrition
diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation of
goals. This ensures Veterans can focus on the highest
priority nutrition problem and work with their dietitian on an
individualized intervention plan that works for them. As VA
celebrates the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 100
years of service, we recommit as a profession to a bright and
healthy future for our nation’s Veterans and our communities.
Join me in celebrating our history, our present and our
future together. To learn more, visit our website at
www.nutrition.va.gov and The Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics at www.eatright.org.