In September 2012, with approval from the former Chongqing Municipal Health Bureau, the hospital officially established the Clinical Nutrition Department. By October 2013, the department had commenced comprehensive clinical services encompassing enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, therapeutic diets, and health dietary guidance. Serving all open-bed patients at the Main Hospital, the department is equipped with an enteral nutrition formulation room - fitted with a 24-hour laminar flow purification system - and an imported portable body composition analyzer, thereby providing scientific and precise data for the formulation of personalized nutrition plans for both outpatients and inpatients.
The department currently comprises a dedicated team of 16 staff members, including10 physicians, 3 nurses, and 1 logistics/delivery staff member. Among the medical professionals, there is 1 senior-level specialist, 1 associate senior specialist, 4 mid-level specialists, and 5 junior-level specialists.
Since 2015, the Department of Clinical Nutrition has actively integrated into various Multidisciplinary Treatment Teams (MDT) -including those focusing on Accelerated Rehabilitation Surgery (ERAS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), colorectal cancer, obesity clinics, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and assisted reproductive centers. By leveraging its clinical strengths, the department has significantly enhanced patient care. Notably, as a member of the ERAS-MDT team, it has developed and implemented perioperative nutrition plans for patients across diverse specialties such as orthopedics, gastrointestinal surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, neurosurgery, and hepatobiliary surgery. To date, these initiatives have benefited over 50,000 surgical patients, yielding improvements in recovery times, medical quality, and overall patient experience.
Who Should Seek Consultation at the Nutrition Clinic?
Under normal circumstances, an individual’s nutritional requirements are fully met through a balanced diet. Missing one or two meals may lead to weakness and lethargy, and for patients, such nutritional deficits can exacerbate their condition. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate a sound nutritional awareness and seek medical consultation when issues arise. Specific groups that may benefit from a visit to the nutrition clinic include.
Patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases): such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia or gout, coronary heart disease, chronic digestive system diseases, chronic renal failure, cancer, etc.;
Perioperative Patients: individuals before and after surgery, or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy;
Individuals with Abnormal Body Weight: including those who are underweight or overweight, or obese;
Special Populations: such as women preparing for pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum women, young children, students, and the elderly;
Others: individuals who are unable to eat normally or are experiencing significant, unexplained weight loss.