The department of dietary sciences at the SSSIHMS caters to the dietary requirements of the inpatients. Staffed with qualified dieticians the department provides individual counselling to patients and prescribes the appropriate diet. In addition changes in lifestyle are also indirectly suggested in the long term interest of the patient. Each prescribed diet varies in calorific and protein levels according to the patient’s requirements.
The department is hooked into the HMIS and therefore meal order placement and follow up is online. This makes it more humane and efficient and also allows for patient satisfaction since the diet can easily be customised to his or her requirement at the click of a button. This also allows for prospective research database creation and statistical analysis of food types and patient studies based on prescribed diet inputs can be facilitated.

The department works on both clinical and therapeutic nutrition of patients:

• Clinical nutrition focuses on the nutritional management of individual patient or group of patients with established disease.
  
• Therapeutic nutrition is concerned with the nutritional requirements of patients suffering from different diseases and prescribing the right type of diet for them.

Role of a Dietician :
Assessing the patient from nutrition perspective.
Physically evaluating the needs of the patient.

Objectives of diet therapy:
Correction of dietary deficiencies
Formulation of the diet in order to meet and to correct the deficiencies taking into consideration his /her food habits.
Educating the patient

Diet rounds on daily basis to wards.
The admitted inpatients of our hospital are initially seen by the dietician for their socio-economic status, meal habits, past medical history etc. since food, acceptability varies from person to person.
They are further evaluated and are provided with supplements like resource high protein, in order to improve their nutritional status. Visiting the patient on their bed side helps in formulation of the diet ideal for them.

Formulation of diet is based on the following aspects:

• Effect of illness on food acceptance
  
• Psychological and emotional factors confronting the patient
  
• Consideration of complaints like lack of appetite and dislike for some types of food.

Patients having valvular problems, coronary blocks etc are treated in our hospital. They are given diets like Salt Restricted Diet (SRD) especially fro valvular cases like MVR, AVR, etc. Patients with Neuro problems like aneurysms are given SRD in order to maintain their blood pressure.