Trusting collaboration: a dietitian shares how she partners in health

MacKenzie Bean, a dietitian in clinical nutrition, recently met with an individual in an outpatient setting at Riverton Hospital in Riverton, Utah who shared their challenge with a severe eating disorder.?

Although MacKenzie doesn’t specialize in eating disorders, she built trust with the patient and provided a referral to a dietitian who could help.??? ?

Partnering with the patient to understand the true need?

MacKenzie developed rapport with the patient in a similar way she recommends developing a relationship with food — with a neutral approach.??

A food item, she said, is not good or bad, and we don’t need to assign labels.??

Her approach to people is the same: start from a non-judgmental place and a desire to create a safe environment.?

MacKenzie develops two-way communication with her patients through motivational interviewing to create a care plan together and help people follow through with the plan.??

Partnering with other caregivers to arrange specialized care?

MacKenzie provided the patient with names and contact information for behavioral health specialists, dietitians, and support groups.?

“The patient mentioned being hesitant to share all of the information they had shared with me with the eating disorder dietitian,” she said. “It’s nerve-wracking and exhausting putting yourself and your story out there once — let alone all over again.”?

MacKenzie offered to call the eating disorder dietitian before the appointment and share the patient’s history and needs, and the patient gratefully accepted.??

“When I called the receptionist and dietitian, they were both fantastic,” she said. “The patient had made an appointment that same day, and the dietitian and I scheduled a time to chat.”?? ?

Partnering with leaders to share ideas and create best practices?

An experience like this can be a one-time success story, but it can also initiate new ways to help more patients.??

Even though not all dietitians in the nutrition department specialize in eating disorders, patients like this one may confide in any dietitian about their struggle.?

“I asked my manager if we could have a brief training about what to say or not to say in this situation to make sure patients receive eating disorder informed and sensitive care from us,” MacKenzie said. “My manager agreed, and this training is already in the works.”?

“Eating disorders aren’t always apparent in one’s physical appearance,” said Jen Wilke, clinical nutrition manager. “It’s important to empower all caregivers on my team to be able to identify red flags that may indicate someone may be developing or already have an eating disorder. Early detection is key, and it doesn’t take an eating disorder specialist to do that.”?

From caregiver dedication to managerial support, MacKenzie and her colleagues in nutrition are living our value, We are partners in health.?

“This all happened in a matter of days, a testament of making sure we not only partner in health but do so in a timely manner,” MacKenzie said. “I had the patient call me a couple days later to say they felt hopeful for their future and felt better moving forward and seeking treatment.”?