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Consultant Dietitians in Health Care Facilities DPG

Practitioners employed full time, part time or under contract who provide nutrition care services to acute and long-term-care facilities, home care companies, healthcare agencies, corrections and the foodservice industry.

Dietetic Practice Group #31
Visit CD-HCF's Web Site at: www.cdhcf.org/

The Consultant Dietitians in Health Care Facilities (CD-HCF) supports innovative practice through manuals, workshops, newsletters and protocol research. Members practice in long-term care, assisted living, home health care, correctional facilities and other settings. Chair Suzanne Cryst, RD, CSG, LD, says, "CD-HCF is committed to leading the future of dietetics by strengthening members with food, nutrition and management skills that promote quality of life for the people we serve. Providing our members with the most up-to-date information and tools needed is top priority."

The group continues to revise its publications, develop new materials and pursue more frequent communication with members via the quarterly newsletter, the Update (sent out between quarterly publications), the CD-HCF Web site and the electronic mailing list.

CD-HCF Officers

Chair: Linda Roberts, MS, RD, LDN
Chair-elect: Carol H. Elliot, RD, LDN
Treasurer: Brenda Richardson, MA, RD, LD, CD
Secretary: Mary M. Rybicki, MS, RD, LDN
Past Chair: Suzanne Cryst, RD, CSG, LD

Membership Total

4,600

Sub-units

Corrections: The Corrections sub-unit is the advocate for registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, working in the field of corrections through current information, trends, regulations, research, tools and networking opportunities. The sub-unit shares professional information among colleagues to advance the impact of nutrition in all types of correctional facilities. Effective communication and exchange of ideas is essential to publicizing the benefits of utilizing the registered dietitian in the correctional environment. A quarterly column in the Consultant Dietitian newsletter and Corrections electronic mailing list promote communication and exchange of ideas.
Home Health Care: The Home Care sub-unit shares professional information among colleagues to advance the impact of nutrition throughout the home health care system. The Home Care sub-unit is an advocacy and resource group for members who provide medical nutrition therapy to the home-based patient. A quarterly column in the Consultant Dietitian newsletter and Home Care electronic mailing list promote communication and exchange of ideas.

Newsletter Name and Unique Features

The Consultant Dietitian is the quarterly publication addressing current topics in geriatric nutrition, long-term care, corrections, home care, food safety and sanitation and includes continuing professional education (CPE) credit. Members receive the publication as part of their membership service. Members also receive UPDATE! newsletters three to four times yearly. The UPDATE! is published to bring members information on timely topics pertinent to their daily work and practice. CD-HCF sponsors a DPG electronic mailing list available to members through the Web site: www.cdhcf.org/. Electronic mailing lists are also available to members of the Home Care Sub-unit and the Corrections Sub-unit. For parties interested in receiving the newsletter who are ineligible for ADA membership, subscriptions are available at $10 per issue.

Contact CD-HCF, Marla Carlson, 2219 Cardinal Dr., Waterloo, Iowa 50701-1007, phone: 319/235-0991, fax 319/235-7224.

Publications Offered Through ADA

Dining Skills Video & Study Guide (1993)
Dining Skills: Practical Interventions for the Caregivers of the Eating Disabled Older Adult (2001)
Pocket Resource for Nutrition Assessment — 2005 Revision
Nutrition Care of the Older Adult: A Handbook for Dietetic Professionals Working Throughout the Continuum of Care (1998) — second edition (2004)
Enteral Therapy Policy and Procedure Manual (1998)
Nutrition Risk Assessment Form, Guide & Strategies (1999)
Pocket Resource for Management (2006)
Nutrition Management and Restorative Dining for Older Adults: Practical Interventions for Caregivers (2001)
Dietetics Practitioner's Guide to Home Health (2001)
Correctional Foodservice and Nutrition Manual — 2nd Edition (2004)
Dietary Documentation Pocket Guide 2nd Edition (2004) — three CPEs
Steps to Success — The Business of Consulting (2002) — two CPEs
Steps to Success — Food Service Management (2004) — CPEs available
Inservice Module 1 — Sanitation (2002)
Inservice Module 2 — Food Safety (2002)
Inservice Module 3 — Dietary Staff (2005)
Inservice Module 4 — Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) (2006)
Eating Matters: A Training Manual for Feeding Assistants (2003)
Manual for Feeding Assistants (2003)
Survival Skills for Nutrition Services (2006)

To order by credit card or to receive an ADA Catalog of Products and Services, contact ADA Member Service Center, 800/877-1600, ext 5000, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central).

ADA Positions Involvement

Management of health care food and nutrition services
Legal and ethical issues in feeding permanently unconscious patients
Nutrition, aging and the continuum of care
Liberalization of the diet prescription improves quality of life for older adults in long-term care
Providing nutrition services for infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities and special health care needs.

Awards, Grants, Scholarships and Stipends

Circle Award (available to non-CD-HCF members)
CD-HCF Scholarship Award (given to two students who are pursuing careers as consultants or in long-term care)
Gaynold Jensen Educational Stipend (CD-HCF members only)
CD-HCF Foundation Award (given to two students who are pursuing careers as consultants or in long-term care)
Best Practice Awards (CD-HCF members only)
Ross Leadership Award (CD-HCF members only)
F. Ann Gallagher Legislative Award (ADAF award for CD-HCF members only)
Distinguished Member Award (CD-HCF members only)

For more information, contact Lynn Moore, RD, LD at lynncmoore@aol.com

Networking, Business Meetings, Continuing Professional Education Events, Receptions

Networking: CD-HCF encourages members to network via the Members Electronic Mailing List (EML). To participate go to www.cdhcf.org/ and click on the "members only" tab, then follow instructions to sign up for the Members EML.

ADA Advisory Committee Represented by CD-HCF Members

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel
JCAHO Professional and Technical Advisory Committee for Long-Term Care
National Commission on Correctional Health Care

Alliances

Dietary Managers Association

Networks

American College of Health Care Administrators
American Correctional Food Service Association
American Health Care Association
American Medical Directors Association
National Association of Home Care and Hospice
National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
Home Health Specialty Group of the American Association of Diabetes Educators

Enhancement and Promotion of ADA's Strategic Plan

Many of the above mentioned products, services and events support ADA's strategic plan. The leadership of CD-HCF utilized the Strategic Initiative Process in a formal strategic planning session. All activities and product development center around member development and competencies.

CD-HCF has taken an active role in ADA's Long-Term Care Quality Task Force. Legislative issues are addressed in the quarterly publication, Consultant Dietitian. CD-HCF works closely with the ADA Washington Office regarding regulations and legislation impacting the DPG and currently serves in an advisory capacity regarding the Older Americans Act legislation.

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