ACI Nutrition Network
The ACI Diet Specifications
have been revised!
Background
Diet specifications are used by dietitians and food service
providers to design hospital menus. They give guidance about
the type and quantities of suitable foods for inpatients
needing a range of diets in hospital.
The ACI released the Therapeutic Diet Specifications for Adult
Inpatients in 2011. They are used across NSW and
underpinned by the NSW Health Nutrition Care Policy
(PD2011_78).
The ACI Nutrition Standards and Diet Specifications Reference
Group was established by the Nutrition in Hospitals
Committee in 2012 to oversee the review of the ACI Nutrition
Standards and Diet Specifications.
The multidisciplinary Reference Group has developed a review
framework, created an online feedback tool and engaged
senior clinical specialists to act as consultants and provide
expert advice.
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The original electronic document will still be available on
the ACI website for access to the diet specifications that
have not yet been revised.
A new User Guide has also been developed.
Changes to individual Diet Specifications:
- The majority of changes to the diet specifications are
minor; however some changes will have a significant
impact on menu design (e.g. the removal of bread and
biscuits from the Soft-dysphagia diet specification).
- New diets will be created to meet a clinical need (e.g. Softdental).
- Diets will be deleted in consultation with expert clinicians
where there is no longer a clinical need.
When will these changes be reflected in menus at
my hospital?
Feedback received is reviewed by the Reference Group on a
regular basis and in collaboration with the clinical specialist
groups where required. Current literature is accessed and
considered before changes to diet specifications are finalised
and approved by the Reference Group.
It is the responsibility of LHDs and Networks to work with their
food service provider and relevant departments to negotiate a
timeline to:
- include new diet orders into the local diet ordering system
(e.g. eMR)
- test new and revised diets
- make new and revised diets “live”.
Why have changes been made?
Where can I find the revised Diet Specifications?
Changes have been made to existing diet specifications to:
- Provide clarification and improve consistency between the
specifications (e.g. updates to the types of foods included
in the Specific Menu Planning Guidelines)
- Align the specifications more closely to:
o national standards and new literature,
o clinical guidelines and current practice.
- Remove typographical or formatting errors.
The new and revised specifications can be found on the ACI
website, along with additional information and the new User
Guide:
http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/nutrition/nutriti
on_standards_and_therapeutic_diet_specifications/nutritionstandards-diets
What changes are being made?
A new name: ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients.
A new format: Once each individual diet specification has
been revised and approved by the Reference Group it will be
uploaded to the ACI website.
AGENCY FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION
Ph: +61 2 9464 4666 Fx: +61 2 9464 4728
Level 4, Sage Building, 67 Albert Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067
PO Box 699, Chatswood NSW 2057
www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au
A summary of the changes made to diet specifications will be
circulated to all stakeholders.
Further information
Tanya Hazlewood, ACI Nutrition Network Manager
Ph (02) 9464 4666 or Tanya.hazlewood@health.nsw.gov.au
April 2015