Integrating nutrition services into primary care: Experience in Hamilton, Ont.
OBJECTIVE
Nutrition services can have an important role in prevention and management of many conditions seen by family physicians, but access to these services in primary care is limited.


OBJECTIVE
To integrate specialized nutrition services into the offices of family physicians in Hamilton, Ont, in order to improve patient access to those services, to expand the range of problems seen in primary care, and to increase collaboration between family physicians and registered dietitians.


METHODS
Registered dietitians were integrated into the offices of 80 family physicians. In collaboration with physicians, they assessed, treated, and consulted on a variety of nutrition-related problems. A central management team coordinated the dietitians' activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Registered dietitians can augment and complement family physicians' activities in preventing, assessing, and treating nutrition-related problems. This model of shared care can be applied to integrating other specialized services into primary care practices.
Crustolo
Anne Marie
AM
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.
Ackerman
Sari
S
Kates
Nick
N
Schamehorn
Sherri
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004035:Diet Therapy; D004046:Dietetics; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation