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Patient
Referral Source: Ms. Eliasi notes patients are referred from
the inpatient infectious disease service, local ASO’s, health care agencies,
the department of health, hospital emergency rooms, other patients, community
based organizations, and counseling and testing programs. The PATH Center
also has an outreach coordinator who refers patients for nutritional services.
Nursing staff refers patients if they notice a lab is off and patients
can self-refer.
Number of Clients and
Population Served:
Number of clients:
830; Ethnicity: Caucasians- 113 (14%), Black-619 (75%), Asian- 2
(<1%), Multi Race-96 (12%); Gender: Female-414 (49%), Male- 414
(49%), Transgender- 2 (<1%); Age: Under age 13- 42 patients,
all the rest are over the age of 13.
Funding Source:
Ryan White Title III and IV and Medicaid.
How often are patients
seen? Most patients are seen every four weeks; some may need follow-up
weekly or every other week. Others, who are stable and not on medications,
may be seen every three months.
Are all patients screened
for nutritional risk? Yes, the Case Managers screen the charts. The
RD must see the patient at the second visit when new lab results are available
and at least once a year.
How often do you provide
nutritional assessments and follow-ups? Ms. Eliasi says, “Most patients
are seen at least two times a year; I have a panel of patients whom I see
monthly. I look at all patients’ weights and labs at each visit and if
I cannot see each patient for a full visit, I try to give them some guidelines
before they leave.”
Other Provided Nutritional
Services: The PATH Center offers on-site visits, bioelectrical impedance
analysis, workshops, and nutrition classes. Patients receive pertinent
nutrition brochures and samples of healthy foods and bagged goodies with
a nutrition component.
Patient Education Materials:
Jennifer uses information from the Internet, posters, handouts that she
develops, food models, and home-made models of cholesterol and arteries.
She notes, “Everything can be used as a prop to educate.”
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