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A year and a half ago, we were given a venture ReachOut by the Sir Ganga Ram Trust Society, that we should be looking at supporting people once they have been ill and have gone home.
Now, in the Convalescence Phase, we are supporting them with medications, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, dressing, nursing along with nutrition.
Here, we found that the biggest problem of nutrition was at home and that was because none of the nutritionists really have much idea about how to prescribe and describe the nutrition in domestic phase in convalescence.
Our very own Head Consultant Dietitian,Dt.Sharanjeet Kour Sodhi,awarded with the Master’s Degree in Dietetics & Food Service Management has successfully completed her Thesis.
Her Thesis Subject was “A Study on Domiciliary Convalescent Nutritional Care of Discharged Patients Irrespective of the Age” which led to the base of this Symposium ahead.
In hospital,we are giving readymade formulas,which are customised and created for the patient.In the convalescence phase,there is not much scientific information of the nutritional needs.
What is the reason to conduct such kind of Symposium & bring into the limelight this matter?
The reason being, as Clinicians, Nutritionists, Representatives from the society can put up all the logic, which is scientific in nature & a need to meet up so that it can be converted into a meaningful document, generally in total manner.
What emerged out of the symposium?
It emerged out that there is no yardstick by which you can judge recovery in convalescence.
There is no single kind of diet given to the patients recovering, so it need to be tailor-made or customised taking into account diseases, nature of diseases, severity of illness so that the end point leads to normalcy of the patient.
It has become clear that there are no known books or research on this important aspect of convalescence.Therefore, there is a need for detailed Study, Research either Department by Department or Disease by Disease.
It also emerged that there are some old traditional set of diets evolving which may be true and having some reasons which is now in a need to look upon again.
Also, we have to bear in mind the socio/cultural/religion/region/economic aspects along with some myths and fantasies.
NEED TO DO :
More Symposiums of Nutrition which will provide in-depth discussion between main stakeholders.
The information needs to be presented to Government for Policy Making.
Government needs to be involved in the development of the Research or any other collaboration.
Customised workforce has to be developed in the hospital based specialities including Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy.
IMPORTANCE:
There is a direct link between Comprehensive Nutrition and returning to the full health. The earlier, the return to moral duties, the more positive impact will be seen in the finance of the family and community at large.
With more and more patients being discharged, if given a comprehensive diet plan, keeping in mind the cost which is more affordable for the family.
Post-operative care: If we can send patients home early, the pressure on the hospital will be reduced significantly.
Finally, it’s a recommended theme or matter which could be taken as a pilot project at a district level before it’s expanded nationally.
We have sent the proposal to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare & got the response too.
We are further looking to make it up come in the government policies.
Contact Dietitian Sharanjeet Kour Sodhi at 9821488524 for any help or queries related to any clinical/therapeutic/regular/balanced Diet in proper accordance with the hospital ethos.
Through this platform,we would request the audience to have a dietitian in contact who’s qualified authentically.So,that complete information,can be imparted to the required ones either in loosing weight,gaining weight,to the gym freaks or the one who want to have the balanced healthy lifestyle.
