August 2021 Newsletter

President’s Message

It’s August in Mississippi and school is back in full swing, so this is a perfect time to highlight that August is Kids Eat Right Month™ at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Kids Eat Right Month™ emphasizes important programs, focusing on smart shopping, healthy eating and active lifestyles for every age group from infant to teens. You can learn how to celebrate Kids Eat Right Month™ by visiting the Academy’s website at https://www.eatright.org/for-kids.

Two other great programs that I wanted to highlight this month is the USDA’s flexible extensions of the National School Lunch Program and Breakfast Program for the 2021-2022 school year. As a parent of a student in the public school system, these programs have been such a blessing to our family this school year and last school year. These waivers continue the commitment of the federal government by providing safe, healthy meals free of charge to ALL children as the pandemic continues to threaten the food and nutrition security of our most vulnerable.

Stay Healthy and Stay Well,

Lindsay Mixon

President-Elect Letter

Hi everyone!

I hope that you are all doing well and having a good wrap up to the summer. We had to be flexible and adapt things over the last several months.

August is National Wellness Month. With everything going on in our lives, I think this is a great reminder that we should all strive to find a healthy life balance. Visit https://shoplivelovespa.com/pages/wellness-month-2021 for a calendar for the month of August with reminders of how we can include wellness.

August is also Kids Eat Right Month. You can read more in the article below.

If you ever need to talk, or have any ideas for MS-AND, please do not hesitate to reach out. My cell is 601-966-2909 and my email is [email protected].

Sincerely,

Lydia West, MPH, RDN, LD, President-elect
Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Healthy Meals for All Students!

On July 26th and 27th three MS-AND members, Theresa Stretch, Kyskie Bolton, and Lydia West, joined Academy members from across the nation in a Child Nutrition Advocacy Day organized through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

This advocacy day helped Congress members understand that they have an opportunity in 2021 to build upon the success of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to strengthen and expand the reach of these child nutrition programs that provide a system of nutrition support and are a critical line of defense against food insecurity for millions of America’s children.

The MS-AND members were able to meet with staff from the offices of:

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi)
Representative Mark Pocan (Wisconsin)
Senator Chuck Grassley (Iowa)
Representative Joaquin Castro (Texas)
Representative Scott Fitzgerald (Wisconsin)
Representative Joni Ernst (Iowa)
Representative Joseph Courtney (Connecticut)
Representative Richard Allen (Georgia)
Senator John Boozman (Arkansas)

And in fact, Senator Boozman joined the virtual meeting in person.

Your support for these initiatives is so important. Passage of this legislative will improve the lives of Mississippi’s children and help to increase access to the services RDNs provide. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.eatrightpro.org/advocacy/legislation/subject-areas and we highly encourage you to fill out the Action Alerts to:

Expand Medicaid MNT Coverage
Support Healthy School Meals for All
School Food Modernization Act
Expand MNT for Eating Disorders in Medicare
Support Medicaid Coverage for Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Obesity by RDNs

USDA Releases Re-Evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, Updates SNAP Benefits

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. With this update, the average SNAP benefit will increase on October 1, providing participants with more access to nutritious, healthful food. Academy President Kevin L. Sauer, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND; Past Undersecretary of Food and Nutrition Service Kevin Concannon, MSW; and Past Food Research & Action Center President Jim Weill, JD, highlight how Academy members can help make the SNAP program nutritionally stronger. Thank you to Kevin Sauer, Kevin Concannon and Jim Weill for your leadership on this important issue!

To learn more about the Thifty Food Plan, click here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/taxonomy/term/415

August is Kids Eat Right Month

In 2014 The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and our Foundation created the Kids Eat Right program, celebrated in August each year. This month of observation put a spotlight on the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles for children and their families. Registered dietitian nutritionists, and nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered, are encouraged to share healthful eating messages to help families embrace nutritious eating habits.

As an Academy member, you have access to free resources to use with consumers. Also, check out the Kids Eat Right social media toolkit to help families shop smart, cook healthy and eat right. There is also a Kids Eat Right Month store

Our Foundation empowers Academy members with programs to help you be leaders in your community and excel in your profession. As the philanthropic arm of the Academy, it is the only public charity dedicated exclusively to our profession, supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals by empowering us to help consumers live healthier lifestyles. The Foundation does not receive any portion of member dues and is funded solely by donations. The success and impact of our programs and services are directly attributed to the generous support of donors.

FNCE® 2021

FNCE will take place virtually October 16-19. Visit www.eatright.org/fnce for more information and to register.

Students: Apply for 2021 FNCE® Virtual Event Stipend

The Academy Foundation’s Student Stipend Program helps Academy student members attend FNCE®. Students interested in attending FNCE® 2021 are encouraged to complete the Foundation’s Student Stipend application by Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at 5:00 pm (Central Time) for a chance at winning complimentary FNCE® 2021 registration ($85 value). Apply Today!

2021 Foundation Virtual 5K

Join us for this great opportunity to unplug from technology and get up and moving, while raising money for the Foundation. This year, let’s get our kids and loved ones involved as well and get outside to complete 5k over the week of FNCE® any way you would like. While strides are different among individuals, approximately 6,500 steps equals 5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles. According to activity-to-step conversions by NASA’s Starport Services—corporate wellness program of the Johnson Space Center— here are some rough estimates for the equivalent of 6,500 steps.

bicycling (leisurely): 56 minutes
bowling: 75 minutes
cross-country skiing: 28 minutes
dancing: 54 minutes
downhill skiing: 38 minutes
elliptical trainer: 32 minutes
frisbee: 72 minutes
gardening: 45 minutes
hiking: 38 minutes
jumping rope: 24 minutes
miniature golf: 72 minutes
raking leaves: 52 minutes
shooting hoops: 37 minutes
swimming (leisurely): 38 minutes
wheelchair use (manual): 65 minutes

Let’s have some fun and post your pictures and interact with your colleagues on social media by using the #werundietetics hashtag. Registration includes an event t-shirt, customizable race bib and finishers certificate. Anyone who participates and raises money to benefit the Foundation during the event will be entered into a drawing for a free 2022 FNCE® registration. Register by September 10 on the FNCE registration site to ensure you receive your event t-shirt in time for FNCE®.

Academy Member Registration: $35

Academy Member Student Registration: $20

Click here for more information: https://eatrightfnce.org/special-events/foundation-fnce-5k/

Donate A Great Item to the Foundation Virtual Silent Auction

The Foundation Virtual Silent Auction during FNCE® is bigger than ever with 24-hour mobile bidding, and open to all Academy members, with more than 100 items that helps raise thousands of dollars for the Foundation’s Annual Fund. Please consider donating an item or items this year with a minimum estimated value of $125. If you need suggestions, Foundation donor Suzi Baxter has shared her great shopping tips on how to find great items! All information on how to donate can be found here:

Click here for a list of all our Foundation 2021 FNCE Events

Become a Preceptor Today!

Remember how valuable your preceptors were to you? Think about it, you would not be where you are today without the help and guidance from all of your preceptors. They took the time and made the effort to help create the next generation of practitioners… YOU! The profession needs more practitioners who are willing to train and serve as positive role models and preceptors to assure that all qualified students can complete their education. Consider becoming a preceptor yourself to help a student fulfill their dream of becoming a registered dietitian.

To support the preceptor recruitment efforts, ACEND and the Academy have developed a “Find-a-Preceptor” database. The database is available for practitioners to register to become potential preceptors and for program directors and students to search and contact preceptors within a certain zip code or specialty practice area.

It’s simple and easy to sign up to be a preceptor! Just visit https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/training-and-volunteer-opportunities/preceptors-and-mentors to register! Click on the green “Preceptor Sign Up” button. You do not need to be an Academy member to register on the database!

If you are already registered on the database, thank you! Please make sure your information is correct by logging in and updating your profile. You can find directions here.

As a reminder, you can obtain a total of 15 CEUs per 5-year cycle for precepting on your CDR PDP Activity Log. For more information about CEUs, click here. There is also a complimentary Preceptor Training program available for 8 CEUs. Find more information on the training program here.

New on the EAL

Just released! The Evidence Analysis Library is pleased to announce the publication of the Adult Weight Management and Celiac Disease Systematic Review. Visit the EAL to see the results of this important initiative: www.andeal.org

Identify malnutrition. Improve patient outcomes. Decrease costs. It starts with NFPE

Patients with malnutrition often suffer from more complications and longer length-of-stays, which result in increased overall healthcare costs–yet malnutrition remains incorrectly or under-diagnosed in hospital settings. The supportive data of a nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE) is a critical component of nutrition assessment and eventual malnutrition diagnosis.

The Academy’s live virtual NFPE training provides the skills, techniques, and expert guidance an RDN needs to accurately provide individuals with a nutrition diagnosis of malnutrition. Attendees benefit from receiving real time feedback on their techniques which increases their confidence and skill level…the numbers speak for themselves! Over 90% of participants reported increased knowledge and comfort with performing the assessment following the live virtual workshop!

Live virtual workshops feature an array of instruction styles and attendee benefits:

Expert NFPE technique demonstrations
NFPE technique breakout sessions
Case studies
Real time Q&A and interaction with expert instructors
10 CPE units!

Are you interested in expanding your current staff or helping your employees advance themselves professionally?

Incorporating Nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) into your clinical nutrition or food service management teams is a benefit to your existing professional staff as well as to your clients/customers. Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) has developed sample position/job descriptions for eight employment categories. Please review them to determine if hiring a NDTR is right for your program: cdrnet.org/opportunities.

Individuals who have successfully completed either an associate degree and an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Nutrition and Dietetic Technician (NDT) program, or a bachelor’s degree and an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program, are eligible to take the registration examination for dietetic technicians without meeting additional academic or supervised practice requirements. Once credentialed, these individuals are required to comply with CDR’s professional development/ recertification requirements, the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics, and the Standards of Practice. For more information on pathways to the NDTR exam eligibility, please visit the CDR website.

If you have comments or questions about eligibility to take the registration examination for dietetic technicians, please contact [email protected].

Billing Resource Available in Eat Right Store

If you’re a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) contemplating starting your own medical nutrition therapy (MNT) practice or working as part of a medical practice and wish to bill private insurance for your services, you will need to navigate the complex business world of the Private Payer Market. From obtaining an NPI to completing a 1500 claim form and even handling denied claims, this comprehensive resource is filled with detailed, practical information, advice, and tools to help you get started. Click here for more information: https://www.eatrightstore.org/product-type/toolkits/rdns-complete-guide-to-credentialing-and-billing

Academy Meets with CMS and CMS Auditors to Promote Appropriate Identification and Treatment of Malnutrition

The Academy joined the American Society for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, the American Society for Nutrition and the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists for a “listening session” with CMS staff and auditors to reinforce messaging around the appropriate identification and treatment of malnutrition to improve CMS audits of inpatient hospital claims for severe malnutrition. Read the Joint Statement here. Learn more about coding for malnutrition in the hospital inpatient setting here.

CPE Opportunities

To view a complete list of online learning opportunities, visit the Center for Lifelong Learning’s Distance Learning page.

Live and recorded webinars

Access premier continuing education form the industry’s leaders, covering today’s vital topics. View all upcoming and archived webinars here.

Recently Recorded:

Upcoming:

August 17 – Nutrition Management of Thyroid Disease: What RDNs Need to Know

Certificate of Training Programs

Satisfy 8-10 hours of CPE credit and add value to your professional brand. View the programs here, including the all-new Policy and Advocacy certificate!

Join the Academy’s New Telehealth Discussion Board

Are you currently delivering nutrition related services via telehealth or thinking about doing so in the future? Join the Academy’s new Telehealth Discussion Board to network with fellow Academy members in focused areas of practice and practice settings. This Member benefit is a new addition to the Academy’s existing Telehealth resources. Learn more.

Available Now: MNT Act Advocacy Toolkit

The Academy’s updated MNT Act Advocacy Toolkit includes valuable resources for policy leaders to encourage their memberships to urge their members of Congress to add their support to this important piece of legislation. The toolkit and additional advocacy resources including the issue brief, leave behind and for the MNT Stories document are available on the MNT Expansion Affinity Group Community of Interest. Policy leaders: please use the provided resources to support the Academy’s advocacy efforts on this important issue.

NEW! Policy and Advocacy Certificate of Training

Academy policy leaders should have received an email last week on the recently released Policy and Advocacy Certificate of Training. The Policy and Advocacy Certificate of Training consists of four modules, each dedicated to different components of advocacy; a bundle of all four modules is available at a discounted rate of $80 for Academy members. Individuals who successfully complete the Policy and Advocacy Certificate of Training will earn 8 CPEU. Policy leaders: please hold off on purchasing this module until the Academy’s Policy Initiatives and Advocacy Team sends instructions for next steps.

Incident Reporting Tool Train the Trainer Webinar on August 10

The Academy’s Incident Reporting Tool was created to standardize collection of detailed stories of success and harm and facilitate stakeholder and policymakers’ understanding of the value of qualified RDN care. On Tuesday, August 10 from 1:30-3 p.m. (Eastern Time) the Academy will host the webinar, “Making the Protection Connection: IRT Train the Trainer,” to provide Consumer Protection Coordinators with the knowledge and information necessary to serve as their affiliate’s trainer and preeminent resource on reporting stories of harm and success. This webinar will also connect use of the IRT to the Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession. Attendees will receive 1.5 CPEUs for participating. The CPC or a designated policy leader from each affiliate is asked to attend. Register today!

Diabetes Case Study

Quality Management’s Case Study: RDNs in Diabetes Education and Care Plan Management that Includes Medication Adjustments focuses on an RDN determining if diabetes education and care plan management that includes self-blood glucose monitoring, use of continuous glucose monitoring devises, and insulin pumps is within their individual scope of practice. Case Studies provide the necessary guidance, resources, and options that can be used to evaluate whether the RDN can safely and effectively provide care and services. Learn more Here.

Board Spotlights

Kyskie Bolton MS, RDN, LD, CLC
City: Madison, MS
Workplace: G. A. Carmichael Family Health Center

Position with MS-AND Board of Directors:Public Policy Coordinator

Tell us what your position is responsible for, and what you like most about it:

The formal answer is that the PPC serves as the liaison between the Academy’s Public Policy Team, the MS-AND Policy Team and the MS-AND members. Informally, the PPC works to ensure that the nutrition related legislation brought forth at the federal, state, and local levels represent the MS-AND members and the populations we serve best interests. – This position is new to me. I’m looking forward to make sure that Mississippi is represented well and I want to make public policy more engaging and accessible to MS-AND members.

What is your favorite hobby/pastime outside of work?

I love a listening to a good Audible, trying new recipes, and definitely travel.

What is your favorite place to visit in Mississippi and why?

This may seem like a boring answer, but I love going home. I’m a native of Hazlehurst/Copiah County. It’s a beautiful place – lots of trees and forests. I never realized until I’d moved away the value and comfort of being in a place where “every knows your name and they’re always glad you came.”

Margaret Carr MS,RD,LDN
City: Long Beach
Workplace: Morrison healthcare at encompass of Gulfport

Position with MS-AND Board of Directors: Treasurer elect