WEB160927 - Combating Malnutrition in the Spanish Speaking Population: Available Programs and Resources

Despite increasing awareness of malnutrition and its effects, one in three patients continue to be malnourished with an annual cost of $156.7 billion for disease-related malnutrition in the U.S across eight diseases. Malnutrition is not just contained within the parameters of the hospital or in a certain population. It is also becoming a leading cause of hospital re-admissions for the aging individual across ethnic communities. Treatment and prevention programs are even more imperative now after changes in reimbursements related to the Health Care Reform Act. The purpose of Malnutrition Awareness Week is to continue to raise awareness of malnutrition and its negative effects on individuals and health care costs. In addition, Malnutrition Awareness Week activities intend, to provide specific strategies for addressing and implementing programs and resources to combat malnutrition within the hospital and community settings. This webinar will address the specific needs in addressing malnutrition, its effect on healthcare, and associated costs from the perspective of the medical physician. Furthermore, an update will be provided on where health care currently stands in diagnosing malnutrition and the comparison of patients according to their diagnosis.

Learning Objectives:

1. Examine the effects malnutrition has within the Spanish speaking population
2. Describe malnutrition in modern times with the changes in health care and the effects it has on costs
3. Identify malnutrition assessment and intervention resources available for the Spanish speaking community