The PA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is pleased to announce that the CMS Long Term Rule Change regarding delegated dietitian diet order writing has been approved for implementation in LTC facilities in Pennsylvania.  Our partners, The Pennsylvania Board of Nursing, The Pennsylvania Medical Society, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Nursing Care Facilities are in support of the rule change.

The CMS rule states:   A resident’s attending physician may delegate the task of writing dietary orders, consistent with § 483.60, to a qualified dietitian or other clinically qualified nutrition professional who—

• (i) Is acting within the scope of practice as defined by State law; and
• (ii) Is under the supervision of the physician.

In order to implement this in each facility, the facility dietitian must work with her/his leadership team to educate and obtain facility level approval.  To assist in this process, the PAND LTC Task Force is finalizing a tool kit.  The tool kit will be available to members via download from the PAND website at no charge.  Non-members of PAND will have access to this tool kit for a nominal charge of $25.00.

The tool kit will be available for download by June 15, 2017.  We will send a message to all members when the tool kit is available.

Julie Charnosky, MS, RD, LDN – President – PA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Shawnee Kelly, MS, RD, LDN – President Elect – PA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Meg Rowe, MS, RD, LDN, FAND – LTC Task Force Coordinator – PA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics