Telephone: 212-305-1319 || Email: alscenter@columbia.edu

ALS MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE CENTER: Dietitian

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ALS Neurologist	MDA Patient Services
ALS Nurse	Counselor
Physical Rehabilitation	Pulmonologist
Orthotist	Gastroenterologist
Speech-Language Pathologist	Physiatrist
Dietitian

Dietitian

Registered dietitians provide nutritional counseling through diet management to promote adequate nutrition while preventing malnutrition. They are available to:

Assess nutritional needs based on disease progression.
Identify malnutrition.
Recommend changes in diet to assist in the treatment of the disease.
Adapt the consistency of foods and liquids when swallowing becomes difficult.
Provide suggestions to maximize calorie and nutrient consumption.
Recommend alternate forms of nutrition, such as tube feeding, if the patient is unable to obtain adequate nutrition by mouth.
Provide education on care and administration of tube feedings.

As a multidisciplinary team member, the registered dietician works with all team members to improve and maintain patient quality of life and general wellness.

Working with speech pathologists, registered dietitians can identify swallowing weakness that interferes with safe food or fluid intake. Speech pathologists perform examinations to identify the source of chewing and swallowing problems, and help the dietitian to recommend modifications in the daily diet, depending on individual needs.

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