Overview
At Akron General, we understand that part of staying well is keeping up with your nutritional needs. Our department of Nutrition can help provide resources, educational programming and one-on-one consultations to help. Our goal is to be your partner on the nutritional road to wellness.
Proper nutrition not only contributes to a healthy weight, but also to an overall state of wellness. A balanced and nutritious diet can help reduce your risk for developing certain chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, certain types of cancer and obesity. Benefits of nutritional wellness, both physical and mental, can improve your health and your quality of life.
Waiting to help is a team of registered and licensed dietitians who understand the importance of working together to develop an individualized plan for each and every patient. Akron General offers both hospital and community-based programs in order to meet your needs.
Our team
Patients are referred to Nutrition services by their physician. Talk to your physician about options that are right for you.
Services
Nutrition counseling provides patients, who have a referral from their physician, with a personalized plan concerning weight control, disease prevention, disease management for diabetes and overall better health. This type of counseling also helps to increase your knowledge of nutrition basics.
A registered and licensed dietitian will meet with you to discuss your individual needs. After assessing your nutrition and health status, the dietitian will then develop and individualized nutrition plan for you and your lifestyle.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Medical nutrition therapy involves a more in-depth assessment process, compared to nutrition counseling, including blood work. Practiced by Ohio's Registered Licensed Dietitians, the program is divided into three parts: nutrition screening, assessment and treatment.
- During the nutrition screening, the dietitian will identify risk factors for individuals of all ages, which may indicate a need for further assessment and treatment or education.
- During the nutritional assessment, the dietitian examines a person's nutritional status, including laboratory results of blood work, weight/height relationship, weight loss/gain, appetite, food intolerance and allergies, as well as other factors that can influence one's nutrition status. Methods to enhance nutritional intake will be recommended and educational needs identified.
- During nutritional treatment, counseling and education are essential for nutritional lifestyle changes to occur. Treatment focus on applying this information through proper meal planning, label reading, recipe conversions and portion control is the ultimate goal.
Programs, Classes & Events
Akron General is pleased to offer a variety of programs, classes and one-time events that focus on nutrition and wellness.
Speakers Bureau
Akron General offers a free Speakers Bureau, which includes physicians, nurses, dietitians and wellness professionals. Nutrition topics include weight control, nutritional guidelines and dietary tips for wellness. Contact our Speakers Bureau at 330.344.1442 if you’d like more information or to schedule a speaker for your group, business or organizational meeting.
Appointments
Call 330.578.4384 to schedule an appointment.
Nutrition
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
1 Akron General Ave.
Akron, OH 44307
Outpatient appointments
Cleveland Clinic Akron General - Heart and Vascular entrance
1st floor (check-in at the Heart and Vascular registration desk)
Phone: 330.578.4384
Fax: 330.344.7887
Making an appointment with a registered dietitian nutritionist:
- Obtain a referral from your primary care physician. Your dietitian will need to know the reason for the referral (i.e. high cholesterol, diabetes, pregnancy, weight control). The physician can submit a referral directly into EPIC or if not a Cleveland Clinic provider, fax a referral to central scheduling at 330.344.7887.
- Call Akron General’s Central Scheduling department at 330.578.4384 to make an appointment. Hours are available Monday through Friday.
- Plan to come to your appointment at least 20 minutes early to allow for on-site registration. Please remember to bring your referral slip and any insurance information you might have.
- Fees are based on length of time spent with the RD. Insurance coverage varies. If you are unsure of your coverage, contact your provider to inquire about coverage for medical nutrition therapy.
- Both in person/on site and virtual appointments are available. There is also an option to self schedule using the MyChart app.
