[Toward regional combined NST approached from convalescent hospital]

In these days, organization of nutrition support team (NST) is gradually spreading out in Japan. But, its action is frequently limited within acute hospitals. In order to realize an ideal nutritional care of chronic phase (convalescent hospital, nursing home and home care), we are required to set up a regional combined NST. We organized a society named EIYOU NETWORK SHOUNAN (EN-S) as a study group of NST, treatment for swallowing disorder and care after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). EN-S takes a regional active part of these study groups at Kanagawa prefecture. We held a seminar about the nutritional care after PEG and a conference about the regional combined NST. According to the questionnaire at the conference, most participants were expected to making a regional combined NST to come true. The convalescent hospital is located in between acute hospital and home care. And that position has a profitable opportunity to achieve a regional partnership, if actively make the effort to organize.