IDDSI Implementation Success: Torrance Memorial Medical Center
IDDSI Implementation Success: Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Many hospitals and health systems are working to embrace International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) implementation. IDDSI is a worldwide mission to establish consistency among the terminology, definitions, and parameters surrounding solid and liquid foods. IDDSI levels utilize numbers to represent food texture (3 – 7) and drink thickness (0 – 4).
The primary goal of IDDSI implementation is to promote patient safety by preventing nutrition-related illnesses like dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, and malnutrition. The setup involves standardized language and testing to reduce choking risk, improve quality of care, and provide palatable meal options for patients.
IDDSI implementation requires significant time and effort, which can be challenging. However, support goes a long way, as demonstrated by Dani Rodriguez, MS, RDN, Director of Clinical Nutrition at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
Networking
The Torrance team initiated their IDDSI implementation after connecting with Peterborough Regional Health Centre during Computrition’s 2022 Virtual User Conference (VUC). Christy Daley, Peterborough’s Manager of Nutrition Services, provided numerous valuable insights during her session, “IDDSI: Cover All the Bases.” Afterward, she offered further guidance that helped streamline Torrance’s planning.
Rodriguez also connected with Computrition’s Account Relationship Management (ARM) and Support teams. They helped her address questions surrounding the transition to new terminology, clarify misunderstandings, and convert all diet and liquid consistencies.
Teamwork
According to Rodriguez, “Prior to implementation, there was a lot of confusion over the dysphagia diets.” Therefore, it was imperative to establish consistency among staff. End-users included the foodservice manager, dietitians, speech therapists, cooks, nutrition clerks, foodservice employees, nursing, administration, and IT.
IDDSI implementation has allowed for more structured definitions in dysphagia diets, clearer recipe instructions, improved onboarding, and fewer interdepartmental discrepancies.
Torrance continues to pay it forward; Rodriguez has shared her training materials with Cedars-Sinai to aid their IDDSI implementation. She has also shared her experience with other facilities, hoping to ensure a smooth transition for healthcare industry peers.
Transformation
Computrition is honored to partner with Torrance Memorial Medical Center to facilitate initiatives like IDDSI implementation. Their ongoing efforts represent the ideal of leveraging technology and collaboration to provide the best care possible. We were so inspired that we awarded them the Transformer category in our 2024 Prodigy contest.
Resources
IDDSI.org contains many valuable resources, including framework, definitions, testing methods, implementation guides, patient education, and more.
As mentioned above, networking with peers can be highly beneficial for self-operators and provides a unique opportunity to gain insights on a variety of food and nutrition service topics such as IDDSI implementation. For example, Computrition holds a complimentary annual User Conference, where customers can interact and learn about the latest automation software, services, and much more!
If you are a current customer, please visit our support website for past VUC resources or email arm@computrition.com.
To discover how nutrition software can assist with IDDSI implementation and management, contact info@computrition.com.