Obtaining MNT

Obtaining Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)

Nutrition services for children and youth with special health care needs can be requested by families or with a referral. Usually the referral will be through the child’s primary care provider (PCP). The PCP can identify a RDN from the Find a Nutrition Network Dietitian locator or by contacting us.

The CYSHCN Nutrition Network RDNs have specialized training in working with children with special health care needs and their families. RDNs with pediatric expertise may also be found in pediatric hospitals, early intervention programs and home health care agencies.

Resources for Community Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)

When providing services to children and youth with special health care needs and their families, community nutritionists/RDNs frequently communicate with doctors and other health care providers. Physicians and other primary health care providers also appreciate brief updates about shared clients. The medical home providers need to know about health-related services their patients are receiving in order to provide comprehensive primary care and assure care coordination.

The following are sample forms used by RDNs to communicate with and build partnerships with doctors and other health care providers with whom they share clients.

• • Template for Nutrition Resources for Children with Special Needs (.doc)
    This template can be used by RDNs to compile the various nutrition resources and contact information for their county or community into a single document. It can be adapted to their local resources, i.e. adding county name to the title, headings added or deleted, saved and updated as needed. The primary target group for this information includes pediatricians and other primary care providers, but also office staff, early intervention programs, public health agencies and local dietetic associations. The template of local nutrition resources could be used in nutrition in-services to medical home providers and others.