Inpatient Nutrition Support Services

Sharp uses a team of experts to deliver essential nutrients to patients.

Specialized nutrition support is essential to the care of patients who cannot absorb adequate nutrients due to major surgery or specific disease states in which the stomach or bowel are not functioning properly. Nutrition support is especially important for malnourished patients and those at high risk for malnutrition.

The leading professional society governing specialized nutrition support (American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) defines two types of specialized nutrition support: parenteral and enteral nutrition.

  • Enteral nutrition is also called “tube feeding” and is a mixture of all the needed nutrients. It is thicker than parenteral nutrition and sometimes looks like a milk shake. It is given through a tube in the stomach or small intestine
  • Parenteral nutrition is a special liquid food mixture given into the blood with a needle through a vein. The mixture contains all the protein, sugars, fat, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients needed. It is sometimes called “total parenteral nutrition” or “TPN.”

Researchers and providers agree that specialized nutrition support is best provided by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, dietitians, nurses and pharmacists working together as a unit. At several Sharp facilities, this highly valued, organized team approach is available and is called the nutrition support service.

For More Information
To learn more about Sharp’s specialized nutrition support services, please call 858-499-3114.

To learn more about Sharp's nutrition services or to find a Sharp-affiliated physician, search for San Diego doctors or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about nutrition, read the Nutrition News archive.

Last Updated: February 19, 2010