The Washington County Hospital Nutrition Counseling Service located at Robinwood Medical Center offers a full range of individualized outpatient nutrition counseling services.

The dietitians who provide this service are registered by The American Dietetic Association and licensed by the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The primary provider of service is also a certified diabetes educator.

Dietitians work closely with your physician and other health care providers as your need indicates. Dietitians routinely consult with the nurse specialists; occupational, physical or speech therapists; social workers and others to provide you with a complete program for lifestyle changes.

SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE WE CAN HELP

DIABETES - TYPE I, TYPE II, GESTATIONAL
The dietitian works closely with the Diabetes Nurse Educator and your physician to help you develop an individualized eating program to match your medications, lifestyle, and food preferences to achieve improved blood sugar control and a healthier life.

ACHIEVING A REASONABLE WEIGHT
Weight control may be a matter of losing or gaining to achieve a more healthy body weight.

CHOLESTEROL - TRIGLYCERIDE CONTROL
High blood levels of either of these fats increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack and/ or strokes.

BASIC NUTRITION FOR

WELLNESS - VEGETARIANS - ATHLETES
The dietitian will take you step-by-step through techniques that will improve your health and well being to help you reach your goals.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
During nutrition counseling for any food and diet related problem, the dietitian will:
- Explain how food & diet relate to your condition.
- Explore your present lifestyle & eating habits.
- Help you identify problem areas and brainstorm with you on ways to improve.
- Teach you how to use the food labels to make better and more nutritious food choices.
- Explore preferred food preparation techniques.
- Help you set realistic goals for success.
- Plan steps to achieve these goals.
- Arrange for follow-up visits to provide support, encouragement, and further suggestions to maintain your changes.

NUTRITION COUNSELING FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT AT THE JOHN R. MARSH CANCER CENTER

Registered dietitians offer nutrition counseling to patients undergoing cancer therapy. Cancer treatments are designed to destroy cancer cells in your body; however, at the same time, they may also affect some normal, healthy cells. Side effects may result which cause eating and nutrition problems.

Since each patient is different, the side effects also vary. They depend on the part of the body being treated, the dosage and the length of the treatment. You may experience one or more of these side effects as a result of your cancer treatment:
- Dry mouth
- Sore mouth or throat
- Changed sense of taste
- Nausea
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Difficulty swallowing

HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

The dietitian will work with you to provide suggestions and information to improve your food intake and lessen the side effects of your treatment.

PLEASE NOTE: PHYSICIAN REFERRAL REQUIRED

Call 301-714-4041 To schedule an appointment or to get more information on any of our nutritional services.