title: [Oral nutritional supplements are effective, purposeful and economic].
abstract: Numerous studies have shown that medically indicated sip feeding is an effective and cost-saving mean to combat malnutrition. Particularly, acutely ill, elderly, polymorbid internal and surgical patients benefit from sip feeding. In Switzerland, the reimbursement of medically indicated sip feeding at home by the compulsory health insurance is critically important for the good of the patient and cost optimization. This is particularly true in the longer-term considering the demographic trends in Switzerland with an important increase of the elderly population. Therefore, the reimbursement of sip feeding was requested from the Federal Department of Home Affairs - with success. Since July 2012, medically indicated sip feeding at home is covered by the compulsory health insurance provided that a medical diagnosis according to the strict and well-defined guidelines from the Society for Clinical Nutrition Switzerland (SSCN) is given.
authors.affiliation: Departement Medizin, Kantonsspital Winterthur.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uster
authors.affiliation: Departement Medizin, Kantonsspital Winterthur und Gesellschaft für Klinische Ernährung Schweiz (GESKES).
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rühlin
authors.affiliation: Departement Medizin, Kantonsspital Winterthur und Gesellschaft für Klinische Ernährung Schweiz (GESKES).
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ballmer
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000191:economics; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000191:economics; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland