### Malnutrition and Nutrition Support

  ## Malnutrition

Many disease states affect the nutritional status of hospitalized patients. Often, patients present to the hospital with some degree of malnutrition and many more develop feeding problems during their hospitalization, necessitating some form of supplemental or alternative nutrition support. Nutritional deficits have long been recognized as contributing factors to morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients. A multidisciplinary team approach to nutrition support has been shown to reduce the complications associated with malnutrition.

During admission, patients are evaluated by a nutrition support team that includes Dietitians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians. We perform nutritional assessment and devise individualized nutrition treatment plans for patients, which can include specialized oral diets, enteral nutrition, or parenteral nutrition. We also offer long-term support for patients requiring home parenteral nutrition therapy.

### Additional Resources

[Learn More about Enteral Nutrition](https://nutritioncare.org/about/what-we-do/nutrition-support/what-is-enteral-nutrition/ "What Is Enteral Nutrition? | American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) (nutritioncare.org)")

[Learn More about Parenteral Nutrition](https://nutritioncare.org/about/what-we-do/nutrition-support/what-is-parenteral-nutrition/ "What Is Parenteral Nutrition? | American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) (nutritioncare.org)")

For those patients already using Nutrition Support, organizations such as the Oley Foundation can provide additional resources.

[Learn More about the Oley Foundation](https://oley.org/page/AboutOley2 "About Oley | Oley Foundation (oley.org)")

## Adult Nutritional Support Team

[Ivania M. Rizo, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/ivania-m-rizo-md "Ivania M. Rizo, MD | Boston Medical Center"), Director of Obesity Medicine

[Kavita Sharma, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/kavita-sharma-md "Kavita Sharma, MD | Boston Medical Center"), Director of Nutrition Support

[Eric Nolen-Doerr, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/eric-nolen-doerr-md "Eric Nolen-Doerr, MD | Boston Medical Center"), Endocrinologist and Weight Management Specialist

[Denise H. Wong, MD](/about-us/directory/doctor/denise-h-wong-md "Denise H. Wong, MD | Boston Medical Center"), Endocrinologist and Weight Management Specialist

Maryellen L. Lopez, RD, CNSC, LDN, Clinical Nutrition Manager/Home Nutrition Support