WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER?

Coffee Break: “Disseminating Your Malnutrition Research Findings and Quality Improvement Successes” | June 29, 2023, at 2:00 PM ET

This conversation will provide an opportunity to share recommended outlets and tactics for disseminating findings from your research projects (such as QI projects you have implemented, data analytics projects that highlight the burden of malnutrition in your patient population, etc.) and to share with other Learning Collaborative (LC) members what projects you are currently completing and/or papers/presentations you have planned for the coming months. We will also share a few examples of the latest research projects and publications that MQii Leadership Team members have developed and are available for your reference.

Please register for the Coffee Break in advance.

ANHI Webinar: “Driving Change: Implementing the Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative Across the Ecosystem of Healthcare” | Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 12:00–2:30 PM ET and Tuesday, August 15, 2023, from 3:00–5:30 PM ET 

ANHI will host a half-day webinar to discuss the prevalence of malnutrition in the acute care setting and its relationship to health equity; identify best practices for implementing key components of the nutrition care process; examine opportunities to engage with hospital quality care teams and quality improvement initiatives; evaluate strategies to engage community partners to provide ongoing malnutrition care in the community setting post-discharge; and define the MQii and GMCS and list resources to empower clinicians to take action.​ The webinar includes presentations from LC member New Hanover Regional Medical Center. You may register in advance to attend on July 12 or another session in August of the same webinar for those who cannot attend in July. 

Learn and Network at Upcoming Conferences

• Nutrition 2023, from July 22–25 in Boston, MA
• 45th ESPEN Congress on Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism, from September 11–14 in Lyon, France
• Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2023, from October 7–10 in Denver, CO
• Gerontological Society of America 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, from November 8–12 in Tampa, FL
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Forum, from December 10–13 in Orlando, FL

View additional upcoming external events (such as conferences and webinars) on our MQii Learning Collaborative calendar.

Consider Opportunities to Share Your MQii Project and Findings 

The following list of conferences may be of interest to you or your team. We encourage you to look at the event websites, review submission criteria, and consider sharing your research with various audiences. Please reach out with any questions or for assistance in pulling together submission materials.

• Institute for Healthcare Improvement Forum, poster submissions due November 1
• Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting of 2023, late-breaking abstracts open July 14–August 24

NUTRITION POLICY UPDATES

White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities

Earlier this year, the White House announced the “White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities,” which encourages organizations of all sizes across public and private sectors to participate and help achieve the administration’s goal “end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases—all while reducing disparities.” The challenge encourages organizations to commit to actions within one of the five strategic pillars:

1. Improve Food Access and Affordability
2. Integrate Nutrition and Health
3. Empower All Consumers to Make and Have Access to Healthy Choices
4. Support Physical Activity for All
5. Enhance Nutrition and Food Security Research

The White House is soliciting commitments to participate in the Challenge through this interest form. As this initiative is aligned with many of the activities and priorities of LC members, we encourage you to explore if your organizations can participate and provide a commitment to the Challenge.

NUTRITION RESEARCH

Recent Publications

 We are sharing a few recent publications and blogs relevant to malnutrition, nutrition care processes, and quality improvement:

• “Malnutrition in Older Adults: Interventions,” in the Academy’s Evidence Analysis Library (including a coauthor from the MQii Leadership Team)
• “Measuring and Addressing Nutrition Security to Achieve Health and Health Equity,” in Health Affairs
• “The Global Malnutrition Composite Score Quality Measure-Seize this Opportunity to Benefit Older Adult Care and Health Equity!,” in OBM Geriatrics
• “Current Nutrition Assessment Practice: A 2022 Survey,” in Nutrition in Clinical Practice

NUTRITION IN THE NEWS

US Malnutrition Deaths Have More Than Doubled

US News & World Report published recent data from the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both showed deaths from malnutrition have more than doubled over the past four years. In California, deaths increased from 650 to 1,400 from 2018–2022, while in the US overall, deaths increased from roughly 9,300 to 20,500 from 2018–2022. Additionally, in California, the majority of deaths occur in residents 85 years and older. This trend demonstrates the need for improved malnutrition care in this population and overall.

Learning Collaborative Member Resources and Recognition

Recent MQii Presentations

MQii Leadership Team members were pleased to present to two different audiences of RDNs about the GMCS this spring—first at the Alabama Dietetic Association meeting in March and then at a regional training coordinated in New England. We are thankful for these organizations’ hospitality and for the opportunities to provide needed guidance as RDNs across the country are seeking information and preparing their hospitals to report on the GMCS.

Recordings of Recent Events

The MQii Leadership Team is continually developing resources related to malnutrition care quality. Recordings of recent events that may be of interest to MQii LC members include:

• Malnutrition Quality Improvement Continuing Education Course:  Advancing Malnutrition Quality Improvement and Health Equity: Opportunities To Lead Change
• The Academy’s May Quarterly Spotlight on Malnutrition Recording
• MQii videos featured at FNCE 2022:
• What is MQii?
• MQii: Learning Collaborative
• MQii: Health Equity and the Community

NFPE: Putting it All Together

Are you looking to review your nutrition focused physical exam (NFPE) skills? Did you know recorded NFPE modules are now available from the Academy on the EatRightStore? These engaging, interactive modules provide a foundational introduction to and understanding and malnutrition and the NFPE.

The self-paced NFPE modules are taught by RDN experts in the field and include a general overview of malnutrition and NFPE; presentations on assessment of subcutaneous fat, muscle mass, fluid status, functional status, and micronutrient status; and case studies to apply your learning. These modules are a great first exposure to NFPE concepts and techniques for dietetic students and interns. For educators and practicing RDNs, these modules are an excellent resource to review and enhance your fundamental understanding of the NFPE.

To learn more about the Academy’s NFPE recorded modules, visit EatRightStore. To learn more about the Academy’s live virtual NFPE hands-on training workshops or schedule one for your facility's RDNs, visit www.eatrightpro.org/nfpe or email [email protected].