- Our services
- Medical and surgical
- Nutrition and dietetics
Nutrition and dietetics
Adequate nutrition and a healthy diet are key aspects of overall health and wellbeing, and are central to our patient care.
Dietary changes may not be easy to make but our highly skilled dietitians will assess your nutritional needs and provide advice on appropriate food choices to help you manage your condition and improve your overall health.
Our caregivers are experienced in working with a wide variety of medical conditions and ensure your nutritional and dietary requirements are met.
Nutrition and dietetics service
Our nutrition and dietetics service is provided in hospital, and in some cases, when you return home where you can access services as an outpatient.
Services include:
- nutrition assessment and management of diet-related diseases/conditions, including providing a therapeutic diet, oral nutritional support, enteral and parenteral feeding when you are unable to take food by mouth, as well as education and counselling
- overseeing hospital patient menus to ensure they meet relevant standards
- education and training regarding diet and nutrition related topics for nurses, catering staff and other caregivers.
Our dietitians complete professional development to stay up-to-date with the latest evidence-based practices and the highest standard of care.
Special diets
We understand and cater for a range of special diets and dietary requirements including allergens, intolerances, texture modification and therapeutic diets.
If you have allergies, specific food preferences or dietary requirements, please let one of our caregivers know when you are admitted to hospital.
Seeing a dietitian
If you need assistance with your diet or advice about nutrition while you are in hospital, you can discuss your concerns with your doctor, nurse or another member of healthcare team and request a referral to see a dietitian.
Benefits
Benefits of working with a dietitian to improve your diet and nutrition include:
- access to evidence-based advice relating to food and nutrition
- education and support to ensure an adequate diet assistance with managing and treating symptoms and side effects related to your condition or treatment
- aiding your recovery and improving your overall health
- assisting you to attain and maintain a healthy weight.
Costs and fee payment options
If you have private health insurance, the costs for your hospital stay and specialist fees may be covered by your health fund, based on your level of cover.
If you don’t have private health insurance, you can access treatment at a St John of God Health Care hospital through our self-funded care option.
When you use your private health insurance, you get benefits that include access to St John of God Health Care private hospital facilities, your choice of specialist, minimal wait times, and with an eligible policy most of your hospital costs can be covered by your private health insurance fund.
You should contact your health insurer to understand your level of cover, and whether your policy is subject to additional fees such as a hospital excess or other ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses. Your health insurer will also be able to assist in understanding if you will have doctor, radiology and pathology out-of-pocket costs.
Patients who don’t have private health insurance can choose to access St John of God Health Care private hospital services and treatments by paying fees themselves.
By accessing our self-funded care option, you’ll be able to avoid wait times and have your surgery or treatment with your choice of specialist at a St John of God Health Care private hospital.
- Learn more and enquire about the self-funded care option.
- Call 1300 940 199 to get a quote for self-funded treatment.
If you have received an invoice for an expense associated with treatment from a St John of God Health Care service you can pay your bill online.
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