Background: Prior to December 2018, the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) was part of the Adult Admission History Powerform (AAHP) used at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) to identify patients at risk of malnutrition. Automatic consults were generated for patients considered at greater nutrition risk based on an MST score of 4-5. Frequency of administration of the MST and its impact on Registered Dietitian (RD) consults is unknown. 

Objectives: To determine the frequency of patients in acute care wards at NRGH assigned an MST score, and to investigate how the MST was used to involve RDs in patient care.
 
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 270 patients from NRGH medical and surgical wards discharged between February 1 and April 30, 2018. Data collection included patient demographics, MST score, presence of RD consult, and whether an RD was involved in patient care.
 
Results: Of all 270 patients, 18.5% (n=50/270) had an MST score and 20% (n=54/270) received a formal RD consult. Around 20% (n=55/270) of patients had an RD involved in their care; of these, 34.5% (n=19/55) were assigned an MST score. Approximately 8% (n=22/270) of all patients had a score of 2-3, and of these patients, 27% (n=6/22) had RD involvement in their care.
 
Conclusions: The small number of patients assigned an MST score suggests limited adoption of the MST. This may have resulted in patients at risk of malnutrition going undetected.

Significance to field of Dietetics: In 2018, the AAHP was rebuilt and the MST was replaced by the Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool (CNST). This will generate an automatic RD consult for any patient identified at risk of malnutrition. Our findings will help measure anticipated improvements based on the new build of the A

An Evaluation of Dietitian Consult Practices Using the Malnutrition Screening Tool in Surgical and Medical Units at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital