From screening to strategy: a multidisciplinary nutrition pathway to combat hospital acquired malnutrition

Hospital-acquired malnutrition (HAM) represents an under-recognized condition which negatively impacts recovery time and survival rates and extends hospital stays for patients. This study describes the creation and execution of a structured evidence-based Nutrition Support Pathway which combines the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) with a dedicated Nutrition Care Team (NCT) and an advanced Nutrition Support Professional Team (NSPT). The proposed protocol establishes standardized procedures for identifying at-risk patients and their subsequent referral and intervention process to enhance both patient outcomes and care efficiency. The pathway proved successful in a tertiary care hospital and now serves as a model for wider implementation.