Webinars

Adult Malnutrition: Screening, Assessment and Nutrition Interventions

What steps can help us identify malnutrition early and provide effective nutrition interventions?

Presenter(s): Carley Rusch, PhD, RDN, LDN

Date: 25 March 2026

Time: Noon–1 PM ET

Location: Live webinar

Continuing Education Credits: Nurse Contact 1.0 CE; Dietitian 1.0 CPEU

Summary

In this free, live accredited webinar, our speakers will address, a summarized version of the 3-hour NFPE program. The Academy/ASPEN consensus criteria and the NFPE are reviewed as well as screening and interventions for malnutrition. This 1-hour program can be used as an introduction to, or a follow-up for reinforcement of the NFPE in clinical practice.

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Adult Malnutrition: Screening, Assessment and Nutrition Interventions

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Key Takeaways:

  • Dietitians and nutrition professionals can utilize the Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) to identify signs of protein-calorie malnutrition 
  • Nutrition interventions are associated with improved nutritional status and reduced hospital readmissions and length of stay.

Related Questions:

  • What is a nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE)?
    Performing an NFPE involves a 1) comprehensive nutrition assessment to evaluate dietary intake and weight loss and 2) hands-on, physical exam to identify muscle and fat wasting, fluid accumulation and any decline in functional status. The NFPE is utilized within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Indicators for Malnutrition (AAIM) to identify malnutrition in adults.
  • Are the Academy/ASPEN consensus (AAIM) criteria validated for use in adult populations?
    Yes, the AAIM criteria is a validated tool to identify malnutrition in adults across various populations. AAIM-identified malnutrition is associated with higher risk for 30-day readmissions and mortality, and longer length of stay in the hospital.

Presenter Bio(s):

Carley Rusch, PhD, RDN, LDN

Adult Medical Science Liaison
Medical Affairs & Research
Abbott Nutrition 
Gainesville, FL, USA

Carley Rusch serves as a Medical Science Liaison in Medical Affairs & Research at Abbott, specializing in Adult Therapeutic Nutrition. Prior to joining Abbott, Dr Rusch completed her bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida (UF), specializing in Dietetics. She earned her master’s degree and completed her dietetic internship through the MS-DI program at UF. During her dietetic training, she also served as a research coordinator on a variety of study protocols, including topics on gastrointestinal dysfunction, inflammation, pre- and probiotics, and the gut microbiome. She then went on to work as an inpatient dietitian at AdventHealth Orlando and served as a preceptor for their dietetic internship program. Her clinical experience spans a variety of disease states, such as cancer, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders, malnutrition, and critical care.

Following her time working in clinical practice, Dr Rusch completed her PhD in Nutritional Sciences at UF. Her doctoral research investigated the effect of the Mediterranean diet on improving constipation and intestinal inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. During her graduate programs, she has taught multiple undergraduate and graduate courses on nutrition, metabolism, and research methods. In 2020, she was awarded Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr Rusch has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been invited to present at national and international conferences.

References:

  • White JV, et al. Academy Malnutrition Work Group, A.S.P.E.N. Malnutrition Task Force and the A.S.P.E.N. Board of Directors Consensus Statement: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition: Characteristics Recommended for the Identification and Documentation of Adult Malnutrition (Undernutrition). JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2012;36:275-283. 
  • Jensen GL, et al. GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition: a consensus report from the global clinical nutrition community. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2019;43(1):32-40. 
  • Compher C, et al. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024:S2212-2672(24)00052-2.
Category
CE CPEU Adult Malnutrition