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 a y, 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.
