Introduction:

Due to ever-decreasing monetary resources, most cardiac rehabilitation centers across the country cannot afford to hire a full time registered dietitian (RD). Consequently, dietary support typically comes from a hospital's nutrition department from an RD who may not be a specialist in cardiac nutrition and lipid management. Moreover, some programs don't have a registered dietitian so nutrition education is provided by nurses and exercise physiologists. Nutrition education is imperative in treatment of cardiovascular disease. A registered dietitian has the expertise to provide quality nutrition education. Expanding the role of a dietitian in the cardiac rehabilitation setting provides quality nutrition counseling and continuity of care while fitting into the budget constraints of cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Methods:

To determine the feasibility of a clinical dietitian performing a dual role in inpatient cardiac rehabilitation (PhI) a clinical dietitian was hired as a cardiac rehabilitation specialist. Training was provided in areas of ECG interpretation, blood pressure monitoring, exercise stress testing, external counterpulsation therapy, and patient assessment during exercise therapy. The dietitian also assumed typical nutrition education responsibilities that included one-on-one nutrition assessment, nutrition consultation, and the design and implementation of nutrition classes for outpatient (PhII) cardiac rehabilitation patients. Most of the patients attending PhII were also seen in PhI, allowing the dietitian to provide more continuity of care.

Conclusion:

Expanding the role a registered dietitian beyond the standard scope of practice is a cost-effective way to provide vital nutrition education in the cardiac rehabilitation setting.