A programable calculator system for the estimation of nutritional intake of hospital patients

The estimation of nutritional intake of hospital patients is made laborious because of the multiplicity of proprietary feeding products. A programable calculator-based system to estimate intake from oral, enteral, and intravenous sources is described. The system is portable, accurate, and rapid and can be used easily by nondietary personnel. A retrospective study using the system found that actual nutritional intake was 20% or more below the prescribed intake for over half of 14 patients under the care of a Nutritional Support Team. It is suggested that frequent and rapid assessment of actual daily nutritional intakes using a system such as this can improve nutritional care and allow more efficient utilization of Nutritional Support Service personnel.