Nutrition and dietitian services

As part of the health care team, dietitians work with clients of all ages, families and caregivers, to support their nutritional health and eating competence. They provide nutrition assessment, counselling, and self-management support to help clients address their health and eating-related concerns, such as those related to:

• Chewing and swallowing problems
• Chronic diseases such as diabetes, liver, heart, lung or kidney disease
• Eating disorders and disordered eating
• Food allergies and intolerances, digestive disorders
• Growth or eating concerns in kids
• Malnutrition
• Relationship with food and eating
• Tube feeding

Primary care dietitians may also work on health promotion and prevention, and may collaborate with community agencies.

How to get a referral

If you or a loved one have a nutrition-related medical condition or concern, and would like to see a dietitian, speak to your health care team about your options, or see below for information about services in or near your community.

In hospitals, dietitians work to improve nutrition and health by working with patients, caregivers, and the health care team. Dietitians may work with patients for reasons such as:

• Chewing and swallowing problems
• Chronic disease management
• Malnutrition
• Poor wound healing
• Post-surgery

Dietitians are part of the care team and may provide specialized nutrition advice, recommendations for tube feeds or IV nutrition, etc. Before discharge from hospital, dietitians provide nutrition education and link patients, families and caregivers to resources in their communities.

How to get a referral

If you, or a loved one, are receiving care in a hospital and are concerned about nutritional health, ask the health care team for a referral to see a dietitian.

In long-term care facilities, dietitians work to improve residents’ nutrition, health, and quality of life by working with residents, their caregivers, and the health care team.

Residents may receive a nutrition assessment and follow-up plan from a dietitian.

How to get a referral

Dietitians are available at many long-term care facilities. If you are concerned about your loved one’s nutrition risk, or have concerns about their eating or swallowing, ask the health care team how to connect with the dietitian.

Population health dietitians work to build capacity, facilitate connections with local and regional resources, and support policies to promote food security and healthy eating for Northern populations. They focus on:

• Community food security
• Food and nutrition across the lifespan
• Health promoting food environments (i.e. childcare settings, schools)
• Household food insecurity
• Weight-inclusive approaches to health

These dietitians work with a variety of partners, including Northern Health staff, health professionals, community groups, organizations, and local governments.

Health professionals and community programs can find some helpful tools on the Northern Health Public Health nutrition guides page.

How to contact a population health dietitian

• Email: PopHthNutrition@NorthernHealth.ca