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Nutrition & Food Service
Open House Information
For more information
contact:
Sharon P. Foley, MS, RD, LD
Director, Dietetic Internship
(708) 202-2343
sharon.foley@va.gov
Nutrition and Food Service
The Nutrition and Food Service at VA Hines
Hospital employs approximately 120 food service,
clinical nutrition, and administrative staff (96
full time equivalents). Operating with annual budget
of over seven million dollars the department
provides high quality food for approximately 1200
meals per day. The Nutrition and Food Service
Department consists of highly skilled and dedicated
dietitians and food service employees. Each employee
of this progressive department is a member of a team
striving to provide nutritious meals and optimal
nutritional care while functioning within a
cost-effective, cost-efficient healthcare
environment. The dietetic intern plays an integral
role in this team approach to total quality
improvement.
The Nutrition and Food Service is headed by a registered
dietitian. The administrative section employs several registered
dietitians who oversee the food production and service, purchasing,
quality assurance, computer enhancements, and staff development and
training areas. Effective methods of food service management systems
are employed. Horizontal and vertical conveyors are programmed to
transport trays automatically from the kitchen to the hospital
floors. One satellite kitchen exists in the nursing home care unit,
which services the geriatric patients and long-term care spinal cord
injury patients. This satellite kitchen features a circular tray
assembly line and services both dining room and bedside tray
delivery. Currently, Hines Nutrition and Food Service prepares main
plate items for Jesse Brown VAMC which is located approximately
eight miles away. The food is blast chilled and sent daily to the
Jesse Brown VAMC.
Our large staff of clinical dietitians provide clinical
nutrition services to all inpatients as well as serving as active
outpatient area. The goal of the clinical staff is to provide
individualized nutritional care to each veteran. Each patient is
screened within 24 hours of admission and assessed if appropriate
within 48 hours of admission. Our highly sophisticated computer
system aids the RD and technician with this endeavor. Nutritional
care plans are developed based on individual need. Recommendations
and evaluations are communicated to the members of the
interdisciplinary healthcare team as well as documented in the
patient Problem Oriented Medical Record via computer. The clinical
nutrition staff works cooperatively with both the patient and
healthcare team in attempt to promote the nutritional well being of
the patient as wells as satisfy our customer, the patient.
Communications have been enhanced both intra- and
interdepartmentally by the Veterans Integrated Systems Technology
Architecture (VISTA). The nationwide electronic mailman system
provides for communication within the hospital as well as throughout
the 163 VA Medical Centers nationwide. The mainframe computer system
has automated many of the functions of the clinical and
administrative dietitians and uses a paperless medical record and
administrative system. Clinical dietitians can assess patient data
through the consolidated Health Summary Program, Pharmacy,
Laboratory, Nursing, Medical/Surgical, and Medical Administration
programs. In addition, diet orders and nutrition consultations can
be electronically ordered and processed. The Clinical Dietetics
package has one of the most advanced Nutritional Assessment programs
currently available as well as a nutrient analysis package. Computer
generated nutritional screening and profile forms aid the dietitians
and technicians in the assessment and documentation process. The
Food Management program assists in production, ordering, maintenance
of a management reporting system, forecasting, and recipe analysis.
During the dietetic internship, the intern is trained to use all
of the aforementioned programs. The intern becomes proficient in
using the computer and incorporating it into daily functions.
Education plays an integral role in the Nutrition and Food
Service department at Hines as well as in the philosophy of the
hospital. Hines is dedicated to educating students and practitioners
in all healthcare disciplines. This creates an environment that
fosters continuing education and stimulates interest in research
endeavors. This truly sets the stage for dietetic education. Support
from the hospital top management for the Dietetic Internship program
at Hines exemplifies the commitment toward continued learning and
advancement of the profession.
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