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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 410. Regulations for the Licensure of Hospitals in Virginia
11/23/2024

12VAC5-410-260. Dietary service.

A. Each hospital shall maintain a dietary service directed by a full-time person, qualified as allowed in 12VAC5-421.

B. Each hospital shall have at least one dietitian, meeting the criteria of § 54.1-2731 of the Code of Virginia, employed on either a full-time, part-time or on a consultative basis, to direct nutritional aspects of patient care and to advise on food preparation and service.

C. Space, equipment and supplies shall be provided for the efficient, safe and sanitary receiving, storage, refrigeration, preparation and serving of food.

D. The hospital food service operation shall comply with applicable standards in 12VAC5-421.

E. A diet manual approved by the medical staff shall be maintained by the dietary service. Diets served to patients shall comply with the principles set forth in the diet manual.

F. All patient diets, including therapeutic diets, shall be ordered in writing by a practitioner, or by a dietitian as authorized by the medical staff, responsible for the care of the patient.

1. Hospitals and their medical staffs may grant privileges to dietitians meeting the criteria of § 54.1-2731 of the Code of Virginia to order patient diets, including therapeutic diets, and to order laboratory tests to help determine appropriate diets for the patient.

2. Therapeutic diets include the provision of enteral and parenteral nutrition.

G. Pertinent observations and information relative to the special diets and to dietetic treatment shall be recorded in the patient's medical record.

H. A hospital contracting for food service shall require, as part of the contract, that the contractor comply with the provisions of this section.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-33-500 § 2.10, eff. July 28, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 8, eff. April 1, 1995; Volume 11, Issue 16, eff. June 1, 1995; Volume 22, Issue 8, eff. January 25, 2006; Volume 32, Issue 7, eff. January 14, 2016.

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