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“Mercy was selected, because it was felt we have some very progressive programs that were leading the industry and positioning us as a good role model for other hospitals,” said Helen Pickering, Clinical Nutrition Manager, Metz & Associates, Ltd. “Dr. Herrera had heard about some of our successful and unique nutritional strategies and had requested a visit.”
Dr. Herrera directs all aspects of Nutrition Support at Geo Gonzalez Hospital, which is a leading government healthcare institute in Mexico. He possesses a global role in nutrition and healthcare and is involved in international efforts to improve the nutritional care and outcomes of hospitalized patients throughout the world.
According to Pickering, several of Mercy’s nutritional programs have been recognized internationally by Abbott Laboratories and have been presented by Judy Rogers, CRNP from the Mercy Hospitalist Program, to international audiences of physicians in Chicago and Athens, Greece earlier this year.
Some of the cutting edge programs that Dr. Herrera learned about during his visit to Mercy included the Nutritional Supplement Med-Pass Program, which is often used in long-term care facilities, but rarely in acute care. This program focuses on the dispensing of a small amount of nutritional supplements with daily medications. Dr. Herrera was also very interested in learning about Mercy’s Nutritional Support Committee, a multi-disciplinary committee made up of registered dietitians, registered nurses, case managers, pharmacists and a physician.
“We also learned from Dr. Herrera,” Pickering said. “He shared some valuable information on programs he has implemented in his hospital in Mexico, including screening each patient for nutritional risk as they are being admitted into the hospital. He also works very closely with medical students and doctors in training to make them more aware of the role of nutrition in patient care.”
Dr. Herrera was accompanied on his tour of the Mercy program by Tere Huici, Product Manager, Abbott Nutritional International in Mexico. The duo spent most of their day with Pickering and Judy Rogers, exploring Mercy’s in-patient nutrition programs as well as touring and observing various in-patient care units. Dr. Herrera’s visit also included time spent with the Medical Director of Mercy’s ICU/CCU to discuss nutritional management in Critical Care unit, Mercy’s Chief Medical Officer and several physicians representing the Hospitalist Program.
“Dr. Herrera had a key interest in learning about the Nutritional Supplement Med-Pass program including specifics of the program and suggestions for implementation,” Pickering said. “He was also very interested in the process for and documentation of the clinical nutrition assessments, evaluations, recommendations and care plans developed by the Clinical Dietitians for each patient at nutritional risk.”
“The visit was felt to be a very productive one and Dr. Herrera reported that he obtained some valuable insight and ideas that he looks forward to applying to his practice at the Gea Gonzalez Hospital,” Pickering added.
Metz & Associates, Ltd., a premier food service company for the Northeast United States, provides dining and environmental management to clients such as hospitals, assisted living & long-term care facilities, public and private schools, colleges and universities and corporate offices. For more information on Metz & Associates, Ltd., visit our website at www.metzltd.com
