The inaugural Monash Health Nutrition and Dietetics Quality, Research and Innovation Conference was held on Thursday, 16 November 2023. The conference brought together Dietitians and Nutrition and Dietetic Allied Health Assistants working across the patient continuum in both bed-based and non-bed-based settings and from all Monash Health locations.
The conference featured diverse presentations, showcasing the breadth of Nutrition and Dietetic expertise within Monash Health. Seventeen oral presentations and eight poster presentations covered topics including malnutrition; nutrition risk screening; nutrition provision in PICU; parenteral nutrition services; paediatric eating disorders management, and obstructive intestinal conditions in cystic fibrosis. The presentations affirmed dietetic commitment to improving dietetic practice, patient care and the clinical skills and expertise that dietitians possess.
Elizabeth Scutt, General Manager of Allied Health Adult Inpatient Care, opened the conference and said, “I am excited to see so many of you at this conference that aims to highlight the close relationship between quality and research in achieving the four guiding principles of Excellence in Timely Care. More importantly, I want this event to acknowledge the importance of nutrition and dietetics for our patients and community and to celebrate our achievements.”
Dr Abby Foster, Allied Health Research Advisor, was inspirational when presenting ‘Nurturing your Inner Research Nerd’ and emphasised that, “Before embarking on the quality and research journey, it is important to know yourself, your story, your audience and that support is available and that we have the power to the change the world.”
The profound effect of dietetic input is evident in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery in the setting of oesophageal or gastric cancer. The impact of such a disease before surgery limits adequate nutritional intake, leading to deconditioning, which impacts post-surgery recovery. Dietitians support these patients in the pre-and post-surgery phase to prevent and treat malnutrition through individualised nutrition plans tailored to meet nutritional requirements. Nutrition optimisation is vital to support surgical outcomes, treatment tolerance and quality of life.
Approximately 90 dietitians attended to celebrate their achievements, network, learn, and ultimately be inspired to deliver exceptional dietetic care to our patients.
Congratulations to the contributors and attendees of the inaugural Monash Health Nutrition and Dietetics Quality, Research and Innovation Conference. May it be the first of many opportunities to further grow our Allied Health team’s research and academic footprint at Monash Health.
Approved by: Danielle Ryan, Chief Allied Health Officer
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