Going Beyond Weight and Height: Assessment of Medically Complex Youth

Medically complex patients are high utilizers of the healthcare system. Only 6% of children are considered to be medically complex, but they account for 40% of healthcare spending. With medical advances, more children with medical complexity are living into adulthood. Nutrition assessment can be very challenging in this population and poor nutrition can lead to increased healthcare costs; therefore, the RDN is an integral part of their health care team to provide nutrition management throughout the lifecycle. This session reviews and discuss the unique challenges of nutrition assessment in this population through the use of video demonstration and family testimony. Participants will learn to think beyond the standard anthropometrics when assessing and managing this growing population and how different techniques can be integrated into practice.

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1.5

Performance Indicators

• 10.2.5 Conducts nutrition-focused physical examinations to determine nutritional statuses of clients.
• 8.1.2 Integrates knowledge of biological, physical, and social sciences with knowledge of food and nutrition to make decisions related to nutrition care
• 10.1.2 Conducts nutrition screening to identify client/patient risks and levels of criticality, and to direct services.

Learning Objectives

• Identify medically complex patients who require use of alternative nutrition indicators to accurately assess their nutrition status
• Evaluate the nutrition status of children and young adults with medical complexity using evidence-based objective and subjective indicators
• Employ nutrition-focused physical examination techniques in children and young adults with disabilities or medical complexities to provide them individualized medical nutrition therapy

Moderator

• Kelly Green-Corkins, MS, RD-AP, LDN, FAND, FASPEN

Speakers

• Amy Reed, MS, RDN, CSP, LD
• Sarah Vermilyea, MS, RDN, CSP, LD, CNSC