Six to 10 h ospital beds have been devoted to nutritional and metabolic disorders. Patients with various chronic disorders are admitted to the metabolic ward for detailed study and treatment. Some of the patients are studied under VA approved protocols. Others are admitted for individual therapies. The VA provides nursing and technical support to maintain the metabolic ward.
Plans are on the drawing board for an expanded metabolic ward in the coming years.
The Lipid Clinic has both a patient management component and a clinical investigation component. Clinics for patient management are held twice per week. This clinic is closely affiliated with the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, which refers many patients with cardiovascular disease for evaluation and management. The Diabetes Clinic meets twice weekly, and the Endocrine Clinic meets weekly. The Center for Human Nutrition also has a 2000 sq.