Dietitians are committed to providing evidence-based medical nutrition therapy for patients with acute and chronic diseases including metabolic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and weight management. Dietitians also manage patients with malnutrition, who may require enteral feeding or specialised nutritional therapy. We are part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver holistic, patient-centred care for our patients. The work of a dietitian has been evolving and we are committed to working with the community for multi-level collaboration to empower and enable better health for all.
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success" – Henry Ford
This summarizes my working experiences with my team and colleagues. It is the people in the team that make the difference to my work life and sometimes beyond that. Our common purpose as a team and the sense of belonging allows me to understand, appreciate and value my fellow colleagues better. Nothing beats a great team!
A typical day often consists of inpatients and clinics mostly with an intern. I screen and identify appropriate cases for the students to prepare. We would discuss the case and then review the patients. The interns and I will then have a debrief – for them to reflect and identify their strengths and/or gaps for improvement & for me to provide them with constructive feedback and identify their learning goals.
I do assess and review my own patients as well. I guide my patients to implement appropriate intervention based on their nutritional needs and priorities. I also participate in AH's supportive care multidisciplinary meeting to discuss the care & plans for our patients. At the same time, I train and support our junior or new dietitians in clinical dietetics. On some days, I may be able to squeeze in time to follow-up on my existing projects. If time permits, I also try to make it a point to meet my mentees/team for lunch or a quick catch up.
With an aging population and a rise in chronic diseases, it is important to ensure good nutrition across lifespan. This is the reason why my role as a dietitian is so important. As a dietitian, I work with individuals to help them make informed choices and to implement dietary changes with the goal of slowing down the disease progression and/or reducing health complications. Through the participation in inter-professional education or MDT, healthcare professionals learning around nutrition & dietary issues is also enhanced. My role as an educator provides me with an opportunity to contribute to the interns' learning process and growth. It is so important to coach and nurture the next generation of dietitians by creating a positive learning environment and supporting them to successfully meet learning objectives and outcomes.
