Utilization within Oregon

Take Action to Promote RDs in Oregon’s Health Care Reform

We know nutrition is essential for preventive care and to reduce health care costs, but if we don’t advocate for ourselves, we might just be overlooked! Attend meetings that are inter-professional and introduce yourself as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and explain what we do. We have diverse skills and comprehensive understanding of health care that is valuable and often underutilized.  Please share how you are contributing to health care reform in Oregon with the Oregon Academy so we can coordinate efforts. Together we can ensure evidenced-based models of nutrition services are incorporated into Oregon’s future health care system.

The Oregon Health Authority Transformation Center CCO Summit will be September 22-23, 2015. And this conference is free! 8 RDNs attended in 2014 and we noticed nutrition was hardly mentioned even though the resounding message was that inter-professional collaboration is essential and everyone is working toward prevention! We encourage you to submit speaker proposals to share innovative models of nutrition services! Plan to attend this event and let's be a part of the conversation and make RDNs visible! Let us know if you plan to attend so we can coordinate efforts.  Details can be found here.

In addition, the Transformation Center will be putting a call out for Clinical Innovator Fellows each spring. The first cohort included Judy Sundquist, MPH, RDN; her project was a childhood obesity prevention model with Latino youth and families.  Strongly consider applying for the second cohort! It would be fantastic to have RDNs included each year! You'll find more information here (State of Oregon info) and here (State of Oregon Transformation Center website)


Suggested Elevator Speech:
“Hi, I'm a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As the nutrition experts we work closely with the health care team to improve performance metrics. We are excited about the transition of health care to a prevention model because we see that evidenced based nutrition can prevent and treat chronic disease which saves health care dollars and improves the lives of millions of Oregonians.”

Regional CCO Advisory Councils. Find out how your regional CCO covers nutrition services.   You'll find more info here.


Read about Coordinated Care Organizations and the impact on RDs in our state here