INPATIENT Areas Include
Community Living Center
- Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) and Geriatric Evaluation and Medical Unit (GEMU)
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program (CARP)
- Hospice/ Pallative Care
- Respite
Spinal Cord Injury/ Dysfunctional Services (SCI/D)
Mental Health Inpatient
Acute Care Services
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit
- Medical Intensive Care Unit
- Cardiology/ Telemetry Unit
- General Medicine Unit
Clinical Dietitians at the VA St. Louis Healthcare system screen and/or assess all Veterans admitted to the medical facility. Assessment, using the nutrition care process, includes but is not limited to: medical and social history, dietary history and intake, height, weight history, protein and iron status, blood glucose, and cholesterol level. Patients are visited during meal rounds to monitor food intake. Clinical Nutrition Services provides early aggressive nutrition support in the presence of a wound or when there is high risk score for skin breakdown, poor appetite and decreased intake.
COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER
The CLC is a 71-bed facility that serves a variety of residents through the provision of skilled nursing and rehabilitative care needs. The most frequently seen residents are those with cerebral vascular accidents, diabetes, cancer, dementia, orthopedic problems, and/or have palliative, hospice or respite care needs. The acuity level of CLC residents tends to be higher than would be expected in a community nursing home due to the complexity of medical care needs in this population. The facility consists of 3 units. One unit has the GEMU and CMR programs and the other two units have the respite, palliative and hospice care, and skilled nursing and restorative therapy programs.
- Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) and Geriatric Evaluation and Medical Unit (GEMU)
The CMR and GEMU programs are intensive care programs providing a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to patients with severe physical disabilities that require an organized program of integrated services. The program is designed to assist Veterans in achieving their highest possible level of independence (physical, psychosocial and vocational). Our dietitian works with the team to achieve the ultimate goal of enhancing Veterans’ quality of life by enabling them to regain as productive a role in society as possible.
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program
The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (CARP) Program is a health enhancement program designed to prevent health risks and to optimize function, performance, productivity and the quality of life of the Veteran served. Veterans who are severely deconditioned, who have severe but stable cardiac or pulmonary disease or who would not be otherwise able to participate due to inability to travel independently to the program are eligible for the five-week inpatient cardiopulmonary program. Our dietitian for the CARP program provides health education via 1:1 counseling with participants as well as group nutrition education.
- Hospice/ Pallative Care
The Hospice/ Palliative Care team provides services and support for veterans and families facing life-limiting illnesses. Our dietitian specializes in providing comfort care and recommendations regarding nutrition and hydration at the end of life.
- Respite
The Inpatient Respite Care Program provides chronically ill or disabled veterans with an inpatient stay in order to give their caregiver a scheduled break. It provides caregivers time to take care of their own needs, take a vacation, shop or visit friends. The service is provided for one week on a quarterly basis.
SPINAL CORD INJURY/ DYSFUCTION SERVICES (SCI/D)
The SCI/D service provides acute care, comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, sustaining care, and treatment of complications from spinal cord injury/disorder. The persons served include patients who have recently sustained a spinal cord injury/disorder and require acute, comprehensive, integrated rehabilitation, have had spinal cord injury in the past but have not had the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation in a Spinal Cord Injury Center, and have been previously discharged from the Spinal Cord Injury Service and subsequently developed a complication. Additional patients with spinal cord disorders other than spinal cord injury, such as patients with paraplegia or quadriplegia due to multiple sclerosis, or other non-progressive myelopathy, may benefit from services provided by the Spinal Cord Injury Service, including achievement of maximum rehabilitation potential, management of chronic pain, spasms, spasticity, pressure ulcers, neurogenic bladder and bowel, and sexual dysfunction. The SCI/D dietitian specializes in nutrition and wound care and improving the quality of life for those Veterans with SCI/D.
MENTAL HEALTH INPATIENT
Inpatient mental health services includes acute psychiatry units, geropsychiatry and Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). SARRTP is a 14 day residential care program housed at Jefferson Barracks. The Clinical Nutrition staff working in inpatient psychiatry specialize in nutrition and substance abuse.
ACUTE CARE SERVICES
The John Cochran (JC) Division has 116 beds which include a surgical ICU, medical ICU, cardiology/ telemetry unit and general medical unit.
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)
The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is designed to provide comprehensive care for critically ill surgical patients. SICU patients require highly skilled nursing care, including close observation and the use of extensive monitoring equipment. The level of care in an intensive care unit is greater than that available on intermediate care units. Our dietitian that covers the SICU also specialized in nutrition support holding a certified nutrition support certification credential and services as the team leader on the nutrition support team.
- Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)
The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is a critical care unit providing comprehensive care for critically ill medical patients with a vast variety of diagnoses. The MICU has a well-trained team of intensivists, physicians and nurses to provide expert care to patients with pulmonary problems. The MICU performs intense monitoring of patients and provides care for those requiring high-frequency ventilation. Our dietitian that covers the MICU also specializes in nutrition support and holds a certified nutrition support certification.
- Cardiology/ Telemetry Unit
The Cardiac/Telemetry floor provides care for Veterans with a primary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Other diagnosis includes Congestive Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Post Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Dysrhythmia. Our cardiac dietitian also serves as a member of the Congestive Heart Failure team which focuses on prevention of re hospitalization as a result of CHF exacerbation.
- General Medicine Unit
The General Medicine unit offers care for Veterans with a variety of complex medical conditions, including Congestive Heart Failure, respiratory disorders, and liver disease. Our general medicine dietitian also specializes in nutrition support and holds a certified nutrition support clinician certification.
Home | Inpatient | Outpatient | Mental Health | Dietetic Intership Program
Clinical Nutrition Services Contact Information: (314) 289-6420
John Cochran Division - 915 North Grand Blvd. 120-JC - St. Louis, MO 63106
www.nutrition.va.gov
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