Abstract
The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to implement a structured referral process for nutritional services and evaluate the impact of this change on appointment wait times. Timely access to Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) is vital, as delays in nutritional care can hinder disease management and prolong health complications. Streamlining the referral process enables patients to receive prompt and practical nutritional guidance, which contributes to better management of chronic conditions and improved health outcomes. However, patients typically experienced a wait time of four months for an appointment with the RDN at the Wellness Clinic. Data collected prior to the project demonstrated that the top three reasons for referrals were obesity, type 2 diabetes, and weight management. This quality improvement project followed a structured five-step process: (1) the primary care provider (PCP) conducted an initial patient assessment to determine need for nutrition services; (2) a referral to nutritional services was created; (3) the referral was processed and authorized; (4) the patient attended a set number of visits with RDN; and (5) the patient returned to their PCP for a follow-up assessment to evaluate the impact of nutritional services and determine the need for additional care. Implementing a structured referral process revealed a reduction in appointment wait times from four months (120 days) to appointment wait time of 7 days.
Presenters
Silvia Kanygin Silvia KanyginStudent, DNP-FNP, Samuel Merritt University , United States Melia Formento
Assistant Professor, Graduate Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Registered dietitian nutritionist, Medical nutrition therapy, Nutrition
