Delivering nutrition services in a pandemic

Since COVID 19 began I have been conducting nutrition clinics from home using the phone or Zoom. I have heeded the NSW Premier's advice to stay home to avoid catching and spreading the corona virus which has had a devastating impact on the health of our world. However nutrition services are deemed to be essential so I have continued providing a valuable service, even if it does look different at the moment.
​The Federal Government has temporarily added dietitians to the health staff who can access Medicare for phone or tele-health from 30 March to 30 September 2020. It is great to be able to allow our clients to access a Medicare rebate after a nutrition consults over the phone or using tele-health.
Corona virus isolation has had different impacts on people. Some are enjoying their extra time to exercise and cook at home more. However other people may be eating more working from home. They now have easy access to food and the structure of eating at set times in a workplace is gone. Gyms are obviously closed at the moment so people need to be creative about looking for other exercise options to avoid weight gain.
There are also positive and negative aspects of phone or tele-health nutrition consults:
Positive aspects of phone or Zoom consults:

• it provides support for clients when other supports are gone (no sport, no family visits, no socialising with friends at hobby or exercise groups)
• it helps clients work on their health goals which may be harder to achieve in isolation
• flexible delivery and timing- most prefer phone consults over Zoom
• staying home works well for those introverts who are happy there
• it provides a focus on clients as the experts in their own lives

Negative aspects of phone or Zoom consults:

• There is no way to show food and plate models of portion sizes over the phone
• I have been sending resources via email or post which means there is a delay in clients looking through them.

I look forward to seeing my clients again in person but until then we all have to make the best of the "new normal". Please call me for an appointment using the phone or tele-health on 0428 323 841.