Telenutrition: Seeing a Virtual Dietitian through TelaDietitian

The expansion of telehealth services into the nutritional care arena is new but growing at a substantial rate.  Not yet sure what “telehealth” is?  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines telehealth as “the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.  Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-front imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications”.  Another words telehealth is the use of various technologies to provide people with virtual medical and/or nutrition counseling and education rather than in person. There are many benefits of telehealth and telenutrition including convenience, flexibility, quicker and more accessibility to your healthcare provider, private and confidential sessions, ongoing support, reduced costs, and the list goes on.   

TelaDietitian is throwing their hat into the emerging virtual nutrition-care arena.  TelaDietitian executed a successful pilot with New York Presbyterian in which users of the program were positively receptive and engaged.  Users agreed that scheduling was easy and they were more likely to visit with a registered dietitian through telehealth than through a conventional in-person appointment.  For example, one patient, Joan (not actual patient name), was able to see a registered dietitian who specifically specialized in gastrointestinal conditions, which was crucial in helping her to properly manage her Crohn’s disease.  Not only was easier access to a specialized dietitian helpful, Joan was able to save on cost since visits with a registered dietitian were not covered by her insurance plan.  Finding the right type of dietitian for your particular needs is never a problem as TelaDietitian employs over 500 registered dietitians nationwide ranging in specialties from gastrointestinal to prenatal, diabetes, cardiac, musculoskeletal and more.  TelaDietitian services include custom meal plans designed by a registered dietitian, recipes, shopping guides, recommending nutritional supplements and warning of potential food-drug interactions.  TelaDietitian provides and follows the Nutrition Care Manuals of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Telenutrition through TelaDietitian can help with any condition or ailment you may be suffering from.