This quarter, the Kentucky Dietetic Association would like to spotlight the clinical nutrition team from Saint Joseph Health Systems. The System includes dietitians from Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph Berea. This well-educated group has obtained twenty-three degrees from higher education systems, including fourteen Bachelor of Science degrees and nine Master of Science degrees. Those obtaining Bachelor degrees have done so from five different universities and include areas of biology, chemistry and nutrition food science with an emphasis in dietetics. Those obtaining Master degrees have done so from two different universities and include emphasis in clinical nutrition, dietetics administration and community nutrition. These dietitians have shared their nutrition expertise and training in seven states including: Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina and West Virginia. Together, they have combined over 120 years of experience.
All dietitians on the clinical staff at Saint Joseph are registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and are licensed in the state of Kentucky by the Board of Licensure. Most are active on the district, state and national level by participating in the local chapter of the Bluegrass District Dietetic Association, the Kentucky Dietetic Association (KDA) and the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Mary Kashef, Joshua Morehead and Melissa Omohundro serve as Co-Chairs on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Dietetic Association. Amanda Goldman, Director of Nutrition Services, serves as the KDA President and has recently been named to serve on a national level for the ADA as a Director at Large for the Dietetic Practice Group titled “Management in Food and Nutrition Systems”. Natalie Noell recently became a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, and is a member of ASPEN, the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
Saint Joseph Health System is proud to have a large collection of dietitians on staff. Although some appear in areas other than Nutrition Services, the majority work as Clinical Dietitians. Each day the clinical dietitians are responsible for the nutritional well being of the inpatient population. Each dietitian has an assigned number of units on which they follow patients regularly. For each patient the clinical dietitians complete a nutrition assessment, determine the nutrition diagnoses and work to implement a nutrition intervention using evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines. They then complete subsequent visits to monitor and evaluate the patient’s progress. In addition, clinical dietitians can provide nutrition education for chronic conditions as part of a comprehensive health care program. Not only can they ensure that patients receive the foods that they want and are good for them, but they are knowledgeable about the nutrition support of more critical patients.
The clinical team at Saint Joseph Health System continues to promote the field of dietetics by participating in dietetics related organizations, by explaining to others what the role of the registered dietitian is, and by working with other members of the interdisciplinary health care team. When asked if they could provide advice for entry level dietitians and students, they simply stated “Get involved early!”. They work hard to ensure that evidence based practices are implemented daily in their work. They provide a great service to students by offering their time and talents; allowing them to shadow as potential dietitians and as preceptors for future dietitians as they complete a supervised practice program.
