Current and Recent Projects

The Academy participates in IT standards development by collaborating with organizations such as Health Level Seven International. One of these IT standards is the "Transitions of Care Technical Implementation Guide." The purpose of this initiative is to create a technical guidance manual for nutrition for health IT vendors who develop electronic health records, ensuring a standardized approach when Nutrition Care Process data is exchanged across care settings.

Several technical implementation guides already exist for EHR vendors, but this is the first guide specific to nutrition. Use of this guide by vendors promotes interoperability of electronic records across care settings and allows reliable sharing of patient data for successful transition of care, quality measurement, public health reporting, research and reimbursement. Nutrition data documented in the appropriate way sets the stage for continued data use, improving quality of care, patient safety and cost savings.

Funded by the Academy Foundation’s Second Century Fund

The AAIM – Academy and ASPEN Indicators to Diagnose Malnutrition Study is a landmark research project that took place in 120 pediatric and adult hospital sites in the U.S. The study aimed to test the validity of the Malnutrition Clinical Characteristics diagnostic tool and to develop an RDN staffing model that optimizes nutrition care of hospitalized patients. Three Foundation Fellows were instrumental to conducting this large multisite project with the Academy's Nutrition Research Network.

This study has provided nutrition and health care professionals with a validated malnutrition diagnostic tool for use in hospitalized adult and pediatric populations. In addition, the staffing model is helping clinical nutrition managers determine an optimal RDN-to-patient ratio that promotes improved patient outcomes. Together, these study products will benefit patients of all ages in acute care settings by improving quality of care and health outcomes. Study results have been disseminated to the nutrition community via webinars, DPG newsletters, social media, FNCE^® and other conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.

This study was funded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group, the Clinical Nutrition Management Dietetic Practice Group, and the Renal Dietitians Practice Group. Seca provided in-kind staff support and equipment for the bioelectrical impedance portion of the study.

The RESTORE Study is a multi-site longitudinal study designed to examine nutrition care practices that may influence the burden of disease in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The goal of the RESTORE study is to assist in the development of a pragmatic protocol of nutrition care practices for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and other health professionals to utilize when caring for critically ill patients with COVID-19. The Academy Data Science Center (DSC) is collaborating with investigators at George Mason University (GMU) and Indiana University.

This project is being conducted with funding from Nestle Health Sciences.

The Breastfeeding Registry Study, conducted by the Academy's Data Science Center, aimed to better understand the documentation of RDNs who provide breast feeding and lactation support to infants and their mothers. The study investigated nutrition outcomes and predictors of nutrition problem resolution in this population. RDNs at six to 12 collaborating sites were recruited and trained to collect registry data using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Health Informatics Infrastructure (ANDHII).

ANDHII enables RDNs to track nutrition care outcomes in their practice setting. The knowledge gained through the collection and analysis of information in ANDHII adds to the evidence base for nutrition practice and helps ensure high-quality patient care. Currently, almost no data exists in ANDHII related to mothers who are breast feeding or infants who are breast fed. This research will begin to fill that gap. It will help us understand the current documentation practices of RDNs in this specialty, as well as the resulting outcomes from receiving nutrition care such as infant weight and breastfeeding duration.

Funded by the Pediatric Nutrition DPG and the Women's Health DPG

This study aims to evaluate RDN fidelity to the EAC's Chronic Kidney Disease Guideline at 20-40 outpatient renal dialysis centers. It will test the effectiveness of an implementation toolkit created to support implementation of CKD Guideline recommendations by RDNs.

It will also examine the feasibility of estimating the impact of the CKD Guideline on nutrition related outcomes. Data from this study will help us better understand the adaptation, adoption and acceptability of the CKD Guideline by RDNs working in dialysis centers, which may inform future iterations of the guideline. Results of this study will be disseminated via webinars, DPG newsletters, FNCE^® and other conferences and peer-reviewed publications.

Through design of the AUGmeNt study, the Academy’s Nutrition Research Network has developed a model that can be replicated to evaluate the implementation and impact of other evidence-based nutrition guidelines.

Funded by the Renal DPG and Relypsa, a Vifor Pharma Group Company

The purpose of this multiphase initiative is to demonstrate the value of RDN-led nutrition interventions addressing three high-priority non-communicable diseases – Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and hypertension – all of which are prevalent issues in the U.S. and globally. Poor nutritional status contributes to onset and progression of these diseases and appropriate medical nutrition therapy can prevent or delay their progression. However, many people with these conditions do not have access to an RDN and do not receive appropriate nutrition care.

Through an expert forum, building of a research strategy, and prospective data collection and analysis, this project will build on the evidence to support increased access to and reimbursement for nutrition care delivered by RDNs treating these conditions. Broader access to the RDN expertise will ultimately have a positive impact on health outcomes for individuals with these diseases.

Funded by Abbott Nutrition, the Commission on Dietetic Registration, Georgetown University, Diabetes Dietetic Practice Group, National Kidney Foundation, Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition, Relypsa, a Vifor Pharma Group Company, Renal Dietetic Practice Group and Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group