By Gina Shaw
Malnutrition remains one of the most underrecognized patient safety threats in U.S. hospitals, yet its impact rivals other high-profile complications.

At ASPEN Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025, experts warned that nearly 9% of patients discharged from hospitals in 2018 had a discharge code for malnutrition (J Acad Nutr Diet 2022;122[10 suppl]:S28-S33), a condition linked to prolonged hospital stays, higher readmission rates, elevated care costs and a more than twofold increase in mortality risk. Safety lapses in enteral and parenteral nutrition, combined with systemic screening and staffing gaps, continue to fuel preventable harm but also offer opportunities for improvement through earlier interventions and stronger multidisciplinary accountability, speakers noted.

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Fact Sheet: HHS Continues Taking Action to Increase Access and Supply of IV Fluids Following Hurricane Helene | HHS.gov

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/10/18/fact-sheet-hhs-continues-action-increase-access-supply-iv-fluids-hurricane-helene.html 

Helene and CVS Land Double Whammy for 25,000 Patients Who Survive on IV Nutrition - KFF Health News

For this research, 170 home parenteral (IV) nutrition consumers responded to a survey with questions designed to “determine the extent and severity of PN access issues with components, devices, healthcare professionals, and transfers of care.” There were also questions regarding reimbursement, insurance coverage, and healthcare costs. Burdens measured included “impact on disease symptoms and medical outcomes as well as the types and frequency of medical or system errors experienced, adverse events, or resultant nutrition problems.” The conclusion states, “This patient survey provides evidence that access issues can result in the ‘failure of the PN system’ to assure care is consistently safe and effective.”

To view the complete article, visit doi.org/10.1002/ncp.11187.

Read the article online at nextavenue.org/older-adults-struggle-with-malnutrition.

Oley has been part of DDNC and attending the forum for several years. Here, patient advocates, professionals, researchers, caregivers, and others come together to network, to learn about public policy issues relevant to home IV nutrition, tube feeding and digestive disorders, and to meet with legislative staff on Capitol Hill. DDNC has confirmed an outstanding line up of speakers from NIH, FDA and community organizations for March 3, and is busy setting up meetings for March 4. Register by February 9 to ensure your seat at this fantastic advocacy event and to reserve a room at the discounted event rate. Register and learn more here.

Webinar Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 11 a.m. ET: Myth Busters: Real Tips for Incorporating Real Food to Your Tube Feeding, Sponsored by Real Food Blends. View Recorded Presentation

Community Connections Friday, February 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET: Virtual discussion all about enteral nutrition. Got a tubie life hack you'd like to share? Have you navigated a tough situation at work or school? Looking to connect with other folks in the community? Bring your tips, tricks, questions, and stories and come chat with us. View future dates. 

Download the 2024 Feeding Tube Awareness Toolkit here! 

Oley created this toolkit to make it easy for you to help raise awareness and normalize the reality of receiving nutrition in different ways. 

With TPN, I was able to have something resembling a normal childhood. I was physically capable of doing the same things as most children. <read more>

The program teaches parents how to use feeding tubes at home, ... via a gastric tube while they are working towards taking all of their feeds from ...<read more>

A person stands in a kitchen holding her feeding tubes.... shares glimpses of their life with a feeding tube and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).  <read more< 

Friday, August 12, 2022 - Christopher DeAngelis opens cartons oftotal parenteral nutrition (TPN) to put into the refrigerator. <read more>.