Bridging the Gap: Remote Dietitians in Post-Acute Care

Providing Patient-Centered Care with Remote Dietitian Services in Post-Acute Settings

The role of a remote registered dietitian in a post-acute facility can vary significantly, influenced by factors such as the overall population of residents or patients, acuity of care, occupancy rates, and location of the facility. Technology has opened new avenues for providing exceptional care. While remote work offers advantages, it also presents unique challenges. Let's explore the best practices for remote RDs in this setting.

Best Practices for Providing Dietitian Services Remotely

As a remote RD, it's essential to first clarify the facility's specific needs. Establish the desired frequency of onsite visits, virtual meetings versus onsite meetings, and the charting protocols for the facility. This sets a clear schedule and expectations. Additionally, to ensure comprehensive care, regularly schedule Nutrition at Risk (NAR) meetings to address new admissions, discharges, significant changes, and higher-risk residents requiring additional nutritional review. During onsite visits, maintain open communication with the director of nursing, resident care managers, and other key personnel. This creates a strong team dynamic between dietary and nursing staff, ensuring smooth collaboration.

After completing assessments, whether remotely or in person, it's crucial to keep the nursing staff and administrator informed. Share a summary of your findings, including a list of completed assessments, any recommended changes, and a record of residents you've reviewed or visited. This helps the nursing team stay updated and identify residents who might need additional support.

The RD should also maintain open communication with the dietary manager. When working remotely, keep the manager updated on any dietary changes. Similarly, the manager may have insights into meal preferences that should be shared with the RD. During onsite visits, it's beneficial to check in with the kitchen staff, discuss any updates with the dietary manager, and conduct sanitation audits as needed. Many buildings require monthly or quarterly sanitation audits. The RD can also provide in-services to the kitchen staff when onsite, covering topics like textures, therapeutic diets, sanitation, survey preparation, or other relevant areas. By establishing a clear schedule and maintaining effective communication, remote RDs can operate seamlessly, achieving the same level of impact as an onsite dietitian.

Benefits of Providing Dietitian Services Remotely

A remote RD can evaluate residents throughout the week, offering greater flexibility for chart reviews without needing to travel to the facility. This "on-call" approach can be especially beneficial for rural facilities facing staffing challenges. For example, if the MDS and ARD dates fall on a Monday, and the RD is scheduled to be onsite on Friday, a remote RD can complete these tasks on the correct dates without delays.

Remote access also streamlines necessary changes to the nutritional plan of care. Dietitians can either directly contact residents or their responsible party for information, simplifying the data collection process. This approach saves time and resources, especially when onsite visits are limited. Remote access additionally allows RDs to monitor residents closely and attend NAR meetings, either in person or virtually. This flexibility can accommodate the nursing staff's schedules. Virtual meetings with residents or patients can also expedite care, allowing for earlier evaluations and early detection of nutrition-related concerns. Remote RDs can efficiently complete assessments, care plans, and MDS documentation within the required timelines, ensuring timely completion even when deadlines and onsite visits don't align.

Challenges of Providing Dietitian Services Remotely

Challenges associated with remote RDs include determining the optimal frequency of onsite visits and ensuring effective communication with facility staff. If the RD visits infrequently, it's essential to prioritize which residents need to be seen in person. Remote RDs may rely on staff to provide information for assessments, which can make it more difficult to understand residents' personalities, habits, and preferences.

Monitoring mealtimes can be challenging remotely, as it's difficult to observe eating habits, feeding needs, and food preferences firsthand. While staff can provide information, direct observation can offer valuable insights. Effective communication with the dietary manager is crucial for managing diet and preference changes. Remote RDs cannot conduct onsite tray reviews, quality assessments, or audits.

Summary

Remote RDs can provide effective patient-centered care in post-acute settings. By leveraging technology, RDs can offer flexible services, improve communication, and streamline processes. While remote work presents challenges, such as limited in-person interaction, careful planning and effective communication can ensure high-quality care.

About RD Nutrition Consultants

RD Nutrition Consultants, LLC is a national leader in providing dietitian services across a wide range of healthcare settings. With a focus on patient-centered care, we specialize in delivering comprehensive nutrition solutions in post-acute, skilled nursing, and telehealth environments. Our expert team of Registered Dietitians is committed to improving patient outcomes through innovative, flexible, and cost-effective services. Whether onsite or remote, RD Nutrition Consultants is at the forefront of the industry, setting the standard for excellence in clinical nutrition care.