Laboratory Assessment of Nutritional Status: Bridging Theory & Practice. MARY LITCHFORD

      Greensboro, NC

      www.CASEsoftware.com

      Preface

      New technologies and innovative processes generate new information giving the practitioner a greater understanding of the cascade of events from diagnosis through treatment and outcomes. The Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is an innovative process in which nutrition care indicators are clustered together to identify nutrition diagnoses. Laboratory data remains one of the key components of the assessment section and is often incorporated into the PES statements.

      Changes in laboratory values reflect changes in medical condition, but not always nutritional status. Be alert to all the factors that contribute to changes in laboratory values. Changes in nutritional status mean the plan of care is achieving the expected outcomes or it is not achieving the expected outcomes. Improving nutritional status usually means shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and speedier wound healing after surgery. Using laboratory assessment to document the positive impact of the medical nutrition therapy demonstrates the benefits of our professional expertise to the medical team.

      Laboratory Assessment of Nutritional Status: Bridging Theory & Practice provides the user an essential reference for many clinically relevant laboratory tests used in nutritional assessment. One feature of this reference is its consistent and easy to use format. Each laboratory test is listed in alphabetical order to allow the user to locate tests quickly. An additional resource is the companion CE course with instructional case studies available online or on CD ROM approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for 14 CE units at Level III. It is available from CASE Software & Books, casesoftware.com.

      Other professional reference books and CPE courses available from CASE Software & Books:

      The Advanced Practitioner’s Guide to Nutrition & Wounds

      Common Denominators of Declining Nutritional Status

      Protein Powders, Potions & Elixirs

      Many new research studies and technological advances are constantly reshaping the field of medicine. We welcome comments from users of this book so that we can provide useful relevant laboratory test information to users of future editions.

      Mary D. Litchford, PhD, RD, LDN

      About the Author

      

Mary D. Litchford PhD, RD, LDN is an acclaimed author and speaker on a wide variety of nutrition and healthcare topics. She holds a masters degree in nutrition from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a doctorate of philosophy from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Dr. Litchford works as a medical-legal expert witness and consultant to the healthcare industry. She has received numerous life-time achievement awards for her professional contributions.

      Dr. Litchford is president of CASE Software & Books. She has authored numerous advanced level CPE courses for nutrition professionals. For product information, contact CASE Software & Books, www.casesoftware.com.

      Introduction & Objectives

      

Each generation of nutrition professionals takes the profession to higher levels of expertise in the medical nutrition therapy. Laboratory assessment of nutritional status is one area that has seen dramatic changes in utilization of data to support NCP and demonstrate the effectiveness of intervention strategies. Laboratory test results are tools for the nutrition professional to use while discussing the care needs of patients with other members of the medical team.

      For purchasers of the self-study course, either online case studies or a CD-ROM of case studies, is included for application of concepts. Each case study provides a medical profile of the patient followed by a series of questions. Users receive specific, interactive assistance for any errors.

      For the most effective use of the self-study course, users should have a clear understanding of interpreting abnormal patterns of laboratory values, medical physiology, common physiological changes that occur with injury, surgery or aging, disease processes and the relationship between changes in laboratory values and changes in general health.

      Learning Objectives:

      At the completion of this course, the successful learner will be able to:

      •Discuss the role of inflammatory biomarkers as it relates to declining nutritional status.

      •Assess laboratory test results for hydration status, protein status, nutritional anemia and other nutrition related disorders.

      •Describe

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