N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-10.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 8:43G-10.6 - Dietary patient services

(a) All new admissions shall be listed with the dietary service by the first pre-meal deadline following admission, as specified in the dietary service's policies and procedures.

(b) Each patient's diet shall be documented in the medical record.

(c) A physician shall write a specific dietary order for each patient.

(d) Patients shall be screened for nutritional assessments based on specific criteria. Nutritional assessments for patients determined to be at nutritional risk shall be completed within 72 hours of admission.

(e) The dietary service shall set guidelines for subsequent nutritional assessments of patients determined to be at nutritional risk.

(f) Patients' nutritional needs for food and food supplements shall be met, in accordance with physician orders.

(g) All diets shall conform to the hospital's diet manual.

(h) At least three meals shall be served daily, and no more than 15 hours shall elapse between dinner and breakfast.

(i) Nourishment shall be available between meals and at night.

(j) Food production shall be sufficient in quantity to meet nutritional needs and shall be coordinated with dietary orders.

(k) Physician orders and changes in physician orders for diets shall be effected by the next mealtime, if they are received by the dietary services by the pre-meal deadline specified in the dietary service's policies and procedures.

(l) The dietary service shall follow the policies and procedures developed by the pharmacy and therapeutics committee regarding possible food/drug interactions.

(m) There shall be a mechanism for evaluating patients on each nursing unit to ensure they are being adequately nourished. This may involve rounds, review of charts, plate waste measurement, or multidisciplinary team conferences.

(n) There shall be a mechanism for the dietary service to be informed if the patient does not receive the diet that has been ordered, or is unable to consume the diet.

(o) There shall be a mechanism for patients and their families to interact with the dietary service, such as a written comment sheet, patient rounds, or distribution of the dietary service's phone number.

(p) Patients with special dietary needs, based on criteria established by the hospital, shall receive dietary instruction from a dietician or authorized designee during hospitalization.

(q) The dietary service shall comply with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:24, "Sanitation in Retail Food Establishments and Food and Beverage Vending Machines".

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-10.6

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 552(b), effective 1/16/2018