US hospitals elevate nutrition screening protocol in bid to reduce hospital readmission of elderly patients

19 Aug 2022 --- Authorities in the US have approved the Global Malnutrition Composite Score that measures the rate of nutrition screening. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are set to integrate the score into its hospital inpatient quality reporting program in 2023.

“The Global Malnutrition Composite Score advances the treatment of patients with malnutrition, elevates the role of registered dietitian nutritionists in interdisciplinary healthcare teams and incentivizes health systems to provide the best level of care – all of which can shorten hospital stays and reduce readmissions,” says Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics president, Ellen Shanley.

The score is calculated as the average of four performance scores. These include the malnutrition screening of patients age 65 years and older, and a nutrition assessment of patients within this age category.

It also takes into account the appropriate malnutrition diagnosis documentation for patients aged 65 years and older identified as malnourished; and nutrition care plan documentation in the medical record for malnourished patients in this group.

The elderly population is at great risk of undetected malnutrition.Leaving a long-term impact
Malnutrition is a significant concern in the Medicare population, leading to increased readmissions, higher costs and longer length of stay, Shanley says.

“Including this measure in the Hospital IQR Program may promote data collection and reporting and encourage providers to prioritize high-quality nutrition care in this vulnerable population,” she explains. 

One of the key drivers behind the project is the impact of malnutrition on hospitalized adults. The condition is estimated to affect more than 30% of hospitalized adults, but is underdiagnosed and only recorded for around 9% of patients. 

Reduction risk
A quality improvement study testing the program across 27 hospitals found a statistically significant reduction in the risk of 30-day readmissions in hospitals that implemented malnutrition quality improvement practices. 

Tackling malnutrition in the elderly is becoming an increasing target for supplement companies, with DSM flagging earlier this year that medical nutrition solutions need to be better integrated into healthcare practice. The company has also stressed the importance of personalized nutrition in light of immunity concerns that often plague the elderly population. In care homes, around 60% of residents are at risk for malnutrition, DSM notes. 

 Industry experts have loved the importance of improving nutrition as both a moral duty and a business opportunity. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization launched its Shift Framework, a tool aimed at bringing nutrition equity across the globe. 

Malnutrition among care home residents reportedly occurs as a result of residents not finishing what is on their plate, and can go unnoticed by even the most attentive care staff. To this end, a new artificial intelligence tool was revealed to analyze photos of residents' plates to determine how much they consumed. 

Edited by Andria Kades