Dietetics & Nutrition

Dietetics & Nutrition
Our Dietetics Department provides specialised nutrition care for hospitalised patients. Our team of dietitians works closely with a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals to support optimal nutrition during a patient’s hospital stay.
 

Our Services
Nutrition Screening and Assessment

• Comprehensive evaluation of patients' nutritional status
• Regular monitoring of dietary intake and nutritional requirements
• Assessment of nutrition-related complications

Medical Nutrition Therapy
Our dietitians provide specialised nutrition care for patients managing various health conditions, including:

• Post-surgical recovery
• Oncology
• Patients requiring texture-modified diets
• Patients requiring enteral (tube) feeding support
• Palliative care
• Paediatrics (Sengkang Community Hospital)
• Patients with diabetes, kidney disease (and those requiring dialysis), cardiovascular conditions or those that require weight management

Therapeutic Diet Planning

• Customised meal plans meeting specific dietary requirements
• Coordination with food services to ensure appropriate meal delivery
• Regular review and adjustment of nutrition care plans

Patient Education
We provide:

• Bedside nutrition counselling
• Educational materials in multiple languages
• Caregiver training for special feeding requirements

Other Activities

Patient Group Nutrition Activities
Sengkang Community Hospital dietitians conduct group-based nutrition education sessions to raise healthy eating awareness through an enhanced learning experience featuring infographic rich visuals and interactive games. Topics include “Healthy Eating for Bone Health”. “Healthy Eating with Less Salt” and “Heart-healthy Diet”.

Diet Rehab
The Diet Rehab program is a unique initiative designed to support patients during their rehabilitation journey at Sengkang Community Hospital and Outram Community Hospital. Delivered in three structured phases, this program is co-led by our dietitians and occupational therapists, focuses on empowering patients with practical skills and knowledge to make healthier food choices and prepare nutritious meals.

Happy Hour: The Comforting Connections Cart 
The Happy Hour initiative at Outram Community Hospital brings joy and comfort to patients in palliative wards through monthly interactive sessions. Activities such as balloon badminton, basketball, Magic Cup, tablet-based games are paired with a “Comforting Connections Cart” offering medicated oil, paint the numbers art and tailored refreshments. A multidisciplinary team including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapist, nurses, medical social workers, dietitian and volunteers works together to deliver these engaging bedside activities.

Our Projects & Research
Singapore Older Adults Resting energy expenditure Prediction Equations (SOAR PEs)
Existing research lacked studies on the accuracy of predictive equations (PEs) for estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) in hospitalized, multi-ethnic Asian older adults with multimorbidity. SCH Dietetics and Research & Translational Innovation conducted a multi-center cross-sectional study at OCH and SKCH, the first in Singapore to focus on this demographic. The study evaluated PEs for estimated REEs and developed two new, promising equations tailored for this population.

Access links:·     
https://www.mdpi.com/3378110      
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40647249/

Empowering Patients with Polymorbidity through Patient-centered Education andFollow-Up in SCH (EPOSCH)
The EPOSCH project is designed to help patients with multiple chronic conditions feel confident in managing their health before and after discharge from SCH. Through a patient-centered approach, the programme provides targeted education on medication, nutrition, rehabilitation, and self-care. The initiative involves a multidisciplinary team of dietitians, pharmacists, nurses, and therapists who collaborate to deliver personalizededucation. By addressing common concerns like diet, exercise, and medication management, EPOSCH aims to boost patient confidence and improve overall recovery outcomes within two weeks post-discharge.