Denise L. Geiger, administrative director and clinical chemist at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, New York, told meeting attendees that clinical nutritional assessment of 350 patients entering that facility's emergency room identified more than half as malnourished. Thirty percent of these patients showed nutritional improvement after therapy. Nutritional assessment involves obtaining a thorough medical and dietary history of the patient as well as clinical testing of the patient's prealbumin and albumin levels.
Albumin is a type of protein found in body tissues and fluids.
However, Geiger said this testing resulted in improved care to the patient. Both Geiger and Mears advocate a multidisciplinary nutrition support team approach once the patient's nutritional needs have been established. This approach results in a good nutritional plan and continued monitoring of the patient's nutritional status.