PAGE 15
HIV NUTRITION UPDATE
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 5

(Continued from page 14)
Mission Neighborhood Health Center- Clinica Esperanza
By  Heidi Lichtner, MA, RD, LDN

 
 

What other nutritional services does the program provide? Mission Neighborhood Health Center also offers general health classes that have nutrition topics; a quarterly newsletter that includes a nutrition article; bioelectrical impedance analysis; and home visits.

What kind of patient education materials do you incorporate in your program? Material topics include food and water safety, nutrition and the immune system, medication/herb interactions, exercise, cooking on a limited budget and/or cooking facilities, reading food labels, how to deal with side effects of HIV medications (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, etc...), vitamins, and food restrictions such as diabetes, cardiac, and weight loss.

Are there any differences in clinical care within your population group? Differences in clinical care seem to be due to limited financial income, psychological limitations, drug use and cultural differences.
 
 

What differences exist between your current clientele and that of the HIV-positive person in the early 1980s? Current clients are more likely to have diabetes and obesity. Our well-informed clients are very interested in keeping abreast of the latest nutrition issues with HIV.
 
 

What was the most difficult issue you had to deal with when you started? Having the clients see the RD. Many feared that the RD would force them to change their eating habits and lifestyle.

Who is your best ally? Ms. Zumwalt states, "Basically, the entire Mission staff is very supportive. The physician Director, Case Managers and the Clinic Nurse are the best source of referrals and they know the importance of my job."

 
 

 

 
 
 


 
 
 
 
"Many feared that the RD would force them to change their eating habits and lifestyle."
 

 
 
 

Do you participate regularly in HIV/AIDS networking groups? Yes, Ms. Zumwalt networks with local (Bay Area) RDs working in HIV care. She is also a member of the HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group (DPG #29) of the American Dietetic Association.

What have you found to be most useful in helping to keep up with the current research on nutrition and HIV? Ms. Zumwalt learns from lectures on nutrition and HIV, medical articles, and networking with her peers. 
 
 


 
 

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8/15/2005