Nutrition

Nutrition/Dietetics

Nutrition is a key component of your health and may be involved in treating and preventing certain diseases. Whether your goal is to maintain a healthy weight, prevent a disease, lessen disease-related complications, heal an injury, or just looking to develop a healthy lifestyle our outpatient dietetics team is here for you.  

The dietetics department comprises a Registered Dietitian (RD) who provides outpatient education in the form of Medical Nutrition Therapy. Medical nutrition therapy, or MNT, is a comprehensive nutrition therapy service that is individualized to fit a patient’s specific needs. MNT encompasses a wide variety of disease states and relies on follow-up visits to allow for continued behavioral and lifestyle changes.

How do I request an appointment?

• Ask your doctor to send a referral to the GAH Nutrition Services department at 217-727-8975.
• Once received, the Nutrition Services team will contact you to schedule your appointment.

When should I see a dietitian?

You or your doctor may want to see a dietitian for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to the following:

• Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or gestational)
• Prediabetes
• Weight management (loss, gain, or maintenance for children, teens, adults, and geriatrics)
• Heart-Health (congestive heart failure, hypertension, cholesterol, coronary artery disease)
• Lung disease (COPD, pulmonary fibrosis)
• Tube Feeding management
• Preventative health/wellness
• Pressure injuries/wound healing
• Renal Health (CKD, ESRD on dialysis)
• Cancer
• Disordered eating
• Dysphagia
• Malnutrition
• Food allergies
• Gastrointestinal disorders (IBD, IBS, Celiac)

What should I expect for my first visit?

Your initial visit is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour in length. During this time, the RD will complete a detailed, individualized nutrition assessment, which includes a discussion of current dietary habits, weight changes, education, and interventions. At the end of the session, you and your dietitian will work together to formulate goals and the need for follow-up.

Will my insurance cover this service?

Since all insurance companies and plans are unique, we ask that you check with your insurance company for coverage of the codes 97802 and 97803, along with your specific diagnosis code.

Contact Information:

Have additional questions? Reach our outpatient dietitian at 217-784-2236