Hendrick Medical Center is launching a new Outpatient Nutrition Program to provide medical nutrition therapy, nutritional counseling and diet education to patients outside the hospital.

With a physician order, the program offers medical nutrition therapy to those with diagnosis or diet needs including: high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer/chemotherapy, malnutrition, wound healing, pre-dialysis renal disease, weight management/obesity in adults and children and those considering bariatric procedures.

The new program, slated to kick off later this month, offers a registered dietitian completely devoted to working with outpatients.

“Many physicians would like their patients to have access to diet instruction because good nutrition is an essential part of a comprehensive health care program,” said Tricia Reyes, registered dietitian and outpatient dietitian at Hendrick. “With this new program, we have the opportunity to give more patients the one-on-one attention they need to help them reach their health-related goals through better nutrition.”

Medical nutrition therapy provided by a registered dietitian has been shown to improve a person’s health and well-being, lessen chronic disease risk and decrease doctor visits, hospitalizations and prescription drug use.

Residents interested in the Outpatient Nutrition Program at Hendrick should talk with their physician. For more information about the Outpatient Nutrition Program at Hendrick, contact Tricia Reyes, outpatient dietitian, at (325) 670-2492.