title: The dietitian in primary health care.
abstract: This statement was prepared by The American Dietetic Association for use in a study on the development of an integrated manpower policy for primary care being conducted by the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. Basically, it is concerned with the role of the dietetics profession in primary care. It is divided into the following sections: (a) Definition of the dietitian and her position regarding the importance of nutrition in all health and health-related programs; (b) present role of dietitians in both in- and out-patient settings; (c) barriers to carrying out the full potential of nutritional care in improving health; and (d) action recommended to maximize the positive influence nutritional services could have and to identify a nutrition component in any comprehensive health care program. Funding of nutrition services in health and medical programs for primary care would be expected to result in cost containment for total health care, as well as improvement in the health and quality of life of the population.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D014481:United States