SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – Two leading Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in the Ilocos Region are taking steps to address malnutrition among hospitalized patients.
The Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) and Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) conducted a three-day intensive training on the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) for nutritionists and dietitians.
The training, held from October 21-24 in Bauang, La Union, aimed to enhance the assessment and evaluation of malnourished patients admitted to public hospitals in the region.
“This is an important initiative because malnutrition is a prevalent and underdiagnosed condition among our hospital patients. While most are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, only a few receive a medical diagnosis for their condition,” ITRMC Medical Center Chief Eduardo Badua III stated during his opening message.
He added, “There is a need to identify our malnourished patients properly for them to receive optimal and timely nutritional treatment. And with an established nutrition care process plan among our hospitals, we are able to assess their situation and ensure their safety for improving health outcomes such as decreasing malnutrition-related morbidity and mortality.”
The NCP, a four-step process involving nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring, ensures consistent and high-quality care for patients.
By following this process, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and reduce malnutrition-related complications.
Dr. Reynald Estandian, a clinical dietician at ITRMC, said that proper nutrition is an integral part of patient care.
“The change of behavior of patients—that is to eat the prescribed diet prepared particularly for a patient can provide substantial physical benefits and ensures psychological comfort throughout the patient’s admission. Ang kanilang diet ay dapat naayon sa kanilang pangangailangan sa kanilang kalusugan upang sila ay mas agarang gumaling (Their diet should be tailored to their health needs so that they can recover more quickly),” he said.
He added, “Individualized diets are important for patients in improving their nutritional intake, managing their health condition, improving weight management, and improving their health outcomes.”
“And by engaging with our patients, we can understand their needs, preferences, and goals and identify the optimal nutritional intervention that must be provided for each patient,” Estandian emphasized.
The training was attended by 33 nutritionists and dietitians from various district hospitals and DOH hospitals in the region.
The Health Facility Development Bureau requires hospitals to submit NCP reports biannually, and the Health Facility Development Unit (HFDU) conducts annual Integrated Hospital Operations Management Program (IHOMP) assessments to validate these reports.
This initiative, supported by the HFDU, underscores the commitment of DOH hospitals in the Ilocos Region to prioritize patient nutrition and improve overall healthcare outcomes. (AMB/PIA Region 1)
