A.S.P.E.N. Clinical Guidelines

Nutrition screening, assessment, and intervention in patients with malnutrition are key components of nutrition care (Figure 1). Nutrition screening has been defined by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) as "a process to identify an individual who is malnourished or who is at risk for malnutrition to determine if a detailed nutrition assessment is indicated."1 In the United States, the Joint Commission mandates nutrition screening within 24 hours of admission to an acute care center.2 The goal of nutrition assessment is to identify any specific nutrition risk(s) or clear existence of malnutrition. Nutrition assessments may lead to recommendations for improving nutrition…