Enhancing enteral nutrition delivery: development of an enteral preparation facility.

As a result of prospective reimbursement, departments of clinical dietetics must define and maintain the nutrition services offered in the most cost-effective manner. The processing, preparation, and provision of quality enteral hyperalimentation to patients provide an example of a nutrition service in which cost-saving measures can be employed. Saint Vincent Charity Hospital and Health Center, Cleveland, decided to evaluate and increase the efficiency of tube-feeding preparation, delivery, inventory, and purchasing because of an increased demand for those services. The evaluation process resulted in the development of an enteral preparation facility, a specialty kitchen located within the foodservice department, specifically designed for cost-effective preparation and dispensation of all enteral formulas. The effort required physical space reallocation and personnel retraining. Implementation of the enteral preparation facility has resulted in improved quality of enteral nutrition services and has significantly aided nutrition support and cost-containment efforts at the hospital.