As a Medical Speech Pathologist, I am in the business of rehabilitating those who suffer from catastrophic/neurological injuries and swallow disorders. The food we serve in the hospital is highly counterproductive to optimal healing. Our patients with cardiac disease, diabetes, cancer, strokes, etc are being served simple carbs, chemical dyes, frozen fruits/vegetables that have lost their nutritional value, sodas, and “nutritional” supplements containing artificial flavors and other additives. Then we compound this with adding the harmful side effects of polypharmacy and the emotional trauma from a traumatic life-changing event. Hospitals should be a place of healing, instead it often feels like a place of symptom management.
This disparity is what inspired me to further my education and study holistic health coaching. Patients often are not sure how to care for themselves from a nutritional standpoint. Thus, the educational gap is overt and concerning.
Thank you for considering addressing this concern. My strong desire is for a our hospital systems to be a place of healing while empowering patients with nutritional education as it relates to improving their medical conditions. .
I implore your consideration to reforming our healthcare food policies. This would include more nutritional training for (but not excluded to) physicians in school, food services, Registered Dieticians, Speech-Pathologists, and Senior Management who implements policies as part of process improvement.