Benefits of nutrition services, a costing and marketing approach

Abstract: This publication reports the papers and discussion conducted at a roundtable concerning the financial trends in health care that confront dietitians today. This roundtable addresses government and corporate concerns about health care costs, changing demographics, and excess supply in the health care delivery system--driving forces for change in the provision and financing of health care. These concerns have led to demands that professionals in all aspects of health care, including nutrition servic es, show that their services are cost effective in order to justify continued use and expansion. The goal of the roudtable was to develop a cost-effectiveness manual for dietitians. The manual will help dieticians collect cost-effectivess data in their institutions, analyze the data, and present the results effectively to those who make decisions about the funding and use of nutrition services.