How to deliver specialized nutritional support.

Integrating specialized nutritional support into long term care facilities will continue to be a multidisciplinary process, involving the education and training of a number of members of the health care team. And as the dynamics of the current health care environment shape the way in which specialized nutritional therapy is provided, standards and protocols for nutritional assessment, enteral and parenteral therapy and staff education will be essential for cost-effective, quality patient care. Specific issues relating to these standards have been discussed--each facility should then develop its own framework for nutritional support, based on individual needs.