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Golden Spoons Patient Feeding Program: Making a Difference One Bite at a Time Katie Szymona, MPH, RD, CDN, CHES, Soon Juhng, MS, RD, CDN. Patricia Nicholas, MS, RD, CSG, CDN, Louise Merriman, MS, RD, CDN NewYork-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital Methods: • The RN/RD/SLP indicates patients requiring assistance and the level of assistance needed. • Golden Spoons volunteers do not perform any additional hands-on services for patients, and only feed or assist patients who do not have complicated feeding regimens. • Golden Spoons volunteers complete a Meal Intake form for patients assisted or fed. This documentation indicates how much the patient consumed at a designated meal time. • Golden Spoons volunteers communicate this data with the RN and RD. • In 2014, 30 Golden Spoons volunteers (63% nutrition students) participated in this feeding program. Outcomes/Conclusion: • In 2014, the Golden Spoons feeding program was implemented on the Geriatric unit in February; on the Stepdown unit in July; and on a Medicine unit in November. • During 2014, 300 patients received feeding assistance. • 41% of the patients on the geriatric unit consumed 75-100% of their meals. • From 2013 to 2014, there was a 7% decrease in the number of patients identified with malnutrition on the Geriatric unit. • Patient intake improved, and the prevalence of malnutrition related to inadequate food intake was reduced. • Positive patient impacts include improved oral intake, reduced prevalence of malnutrition, and improved patient and family satisfaction. • Golden Spoons also has helped to elevate interdisciplinary collaboration in the nutritional care of the patient. Problem: • During a hospital stay, the prevalence of malnutrition increases to 20% to 65%, and to 23% to 85% in nursing home residents. • In 2014, 718 patients (8.7% prevalence) were identified with malnutrition at NewYork-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital. • On the geriatric unit during the same year, 248 patients were identified with malnutrition. This represented 35% of patients identified with malnutrition at The Allen Hospital in 2014. • Upon admission, the majority of malnourished patients on the geriatric unit were identified with <50% energy intake compared to estimated energy needs for > 5 days. Solution: • To improve patients’ oral intake, a patient feeding program was implemented by trained volunteers via collaborative work with Volunteer Services, Nursing, Speech/Language Pathology (SLP) and Clinical Nutrition. • Golden Spoons volunteers were oriented on patient feeding, were in-serviced by nursing staff, and were assessed for patient feeding competency by Nursing and SLP. • Golden Spoons volunteers work under the supervision of the RN. N=238 patients, on the Geriatric Unit Meal Intake Form Patient Feeding Assistance Date: ____/____ _ /_______ Location: __________ VOLUNTEER NAME: MEAL (circle one) : Breakfast Lunch Dinner Patient Name Room Number Who made Referral Total Feed Partial Feed Social Supp Tray SetUp Only Meal Completion Notes 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% 25% 50% 75% 100% Useful phone numbers: Dietitian ’ s Office : 212 - 932 - 5180 Katie Szymona, Clinical Nutrition Supervisor : 212 -932 -5182 Kitchen Administration Office : 212 -932 - 4030 Amy Bush, Volunteer Services : 212 -932 - 5319 Mary E. Murr ay, Speech and Swallowing : Pager: 3175880 - 84825 Patient names come from the nursing staff and/or dietitians. Please make a copy of this form and put one in the dietitian’s office and the other leave with the unit assistant at the nursing station.
