DEPARTMENT OF DIETETICS

Information to be uploaded on PGIMER Website under RTI Act 2005

Introduction
With advancement in the field of nutrition science the daily needs of human health and
disease are now well established. The department of dietetics in hospital is a vital
organization that carries multiple responsibilities related to patient’s daily intake of nutrition.
The Department of Dietetics has been functioning ever since the inception of Nehru Hospital,
PGIMER, Chandigarh in the year 1963. Patients are being provided with nutrition education
and hygienically prepared high quality food services.

Location

S.
Location Contact Person Phone Timings
No.
Nehru Hospital, 5th
1 Chief Dietician +91 172 2756044 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Floor, C Block
Nehru Hospital, 4th
2 Dietician +91 172 2756046 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Floor, C Block
3 APC, 4th floor,C Block Assistant Dietician 91 172 2755662 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
ACC, ground floor, B
4 Assistant Dietician 91 172 2755021 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Block
Nehru Hospital, 3rd
5 Store Keeper +91 172 2756047 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Floor, C Block
6 Guest House, sec -12 Care Taker +91 172 2756787 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
7 Guest House, sec -24 Care Taker +91 172 2715268 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Objectives
The main objectives of department of Dietetics are to provide:

Clinical services - Daily ward rounds are taken by the dieticians in their respective wards and
diet is prescribed and implemented in consultation with the doctors. Individual diet counselling
along with diet chart is provided to indoor as well as outdoor patients.

Meal services : Meal services are provided to general as well as private wards patients. In
general ward tea and breakfast services are decentralized and lunch and dinner are centralized,
whereas all meal services are centralized in private wards. The therapeutic section caters to
patients who are on special feeds and diets. There are approximately 600 normal diets. The cost
for general diet is Rs. 35/- per day and Rs. 150/- per day for private ward patients.

Institute hospitality- In addition to meal services Dietetics Dept also looks after hospitality of
indoor patients, institute guests, institute functions and institute’s guest houses.

? During the visits of VVIP’s at PGI or any other institute function, the hospitality is organized
by the Department of Dietetics.
? The hospitality in the three guest houses of PGI is also looked after by Department of
Dietetics.

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? The Department provides cooks for the Primary Health Centre at Naraingarh, Haryana,
where residents from PGI are posted.

Education and Training— In the area of expertise in food services management and therapeutic
nutrition, the department of dietetics undertakes training of dietetics interns. Students from
Punjab, Haryana, UP, Gujarat, MP and Rajasthan come here for Internship training. They are
selected on the basis of screening test, which is held twice a year in March and September under
the guidance of the Registrar, PGI. Duration of internship varies from 6 weeks to 3 months. Also,
interns join for short term attachment program for a term of 3 months and 6 months for which
they get the experience certificate from the institute. Eligibility for Screening Test- is PG
Diploma in dietetics and Nutrition or M.Sc (Foods and Nutrition).
Research and development: - Research work is also carried out by dieticians in collaboration
with other department like Gastroenterology, General Surgery and Pediatrics etc. and research
papers are presented by dieticians in various conferences.

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

Officer In charge – Dietetics / APHA

Consultant Dietetics

Chief Dietician (No.1)

Dietician (No. 2)

Assistant Dietician (Nos. 8)

Human Resource deployment

1. Distribution of Dietetics and other Staff

Post Area of work Number

Dietician Management of Kitchen staff, Training of 1
Interns
Dietician Medical wards 1
Assistant dietician Surgical wards 1
Assistant dietician Advanced Cardiac centre 1
Assistant dietician Advanced Pediatric centre 2
Assistant dietician Advanced Trauma Centre 1
Assistant dietician Neurosurgury, ENT & Plastic surgery 1
Assistant dietician Gastroenterology wards 1
Assistant dietician Private wards 1
Office Assistant Clerical 1

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 Care taker Guest houses 1
Store keeper Dietetics stores 2
Store Keeper Dietetics sub stores 1

2. Distribution of Kitchen workers

Area of work Manpower

General ward Kitchen (Both shifts) 57
Private ward Kitchen (Both shifts) 38
Director office – Pantry 2
MS Office – Pantry 1
Naraingarh 2
General Duty (Workshop, store, gas) 3
Infant formula Room 2
Institute Hospitality 2
Guest House 7
Grand Total 114

Workload/output:

Year 2011-2012

Normal Diet Therapeutic Therapeutic

Patient Services Total
(No. of patient) diets feeds
General ward 2,91,667 46860 26905 365432
Private ward 28914 5856 3660 38430
Pediatric diets 5860 - - 5860
High protein feed
- - 37263 37263
supplements
Infant formula
- - - 516
baby milk

Institute Hospitality for year 2011-2012

Guest House Exams/ official Meetings

Tea Meals Tea Meals
3317 2961 69252 4699

Quality Control Measures

1. Stores-

? Quality is checked by a committee of three members for dry rations, fruits,

vegetables. Chicken & eggs are checked by dieticians. Milk quality is checked every
day with the help of Lactometer by the dietician.

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 ? Perishable items such as fruits, vegetables and eggs are stored in a cold room whereas
chicken and paneer are stored in deep freezer, thus maintaining their quality. Dry
rations are stored in a spacious store room which is regularly cleaned and given the
anti-rodent & anti cockroach treatment routinely.

2. Food preparation –

Diet Schedule- A standard diet schedule is followed for normal and therapeutic diets and feeds.

3. Clinical rounds –

? A standard protocol is prepared to maintain the quality of ward rounds.

4. Feed back

? In private wards the feedback forms are given to the patients on a regular basis. On
the basis of the various suggestions/opinions thus obtained, efforts are made to
improve the meal services accordingly.

? In general wards no such formal feedback forms are given to the patients but during
the course of ward round by dieticians, this information is obtained from the patients
and accordingly the services are improved.

5. Medical checkup –
Routine medical examinations are done for food handlers once in a year and suitable
treatment are given to them.

6. Personal hygiene – Regular checking of hair, nail, dress are done by the dieticians for
maintaining good personal hygiene of food handlers and are taught them about the
cleanliness and hygienic food preparation and services on regular basis.

Expenditure

The total Expenditure During the last fiscal year 2011-2012 was Rs. 1, 84, 29335-48.

Related Committees with composition

In order to streamline the functioning of Dietetics department following committees are

constituted:

1. Dietary purchase committee – The following are the members of dietary purchase
committee:

HOD – Dept. of Radiodiagnosis Chairperson

Officer Incharge – APC Member

Assistant Prof. Dept. of Hosp. Admn. Member

Rep. of Financial Advisor Member

Stores Officer Member

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 Asstt. Professor, deptt.of histopathology Member

Consultant Dietetics Member Convener

2. Contractual Meal service committee

Officer Incharge – APC Chairperson

Assistant Prof. Dept. of Hosp. Admn Member

Asstt. Prof. Dept. of Orthopaedics Member

Professor, Dept. of Histhopathology Special Invitee

Chief Dietician Member Convener

3. Fruit and Vegetable checking committee

Dietician Member

Dietician Member

Store keeper Member

MHA Member

4. Ration Store inspection committee

Rep. of Finical Advisor Member

Store officer Member

Nursing supdtt Member

Consultant dietetics Member

Academic/ research/ training activities

? Poster presentations/ exhibitions & quiz etc. are organized from time to time to
celebrate Nutrition week and breast feeding every year.

? Also, Dieticians are associated with various departments like Gastroenterology,

Hepatology, Nephrology, Pediatrics and General surgery in conducting various
research studies.

? For general public health and nutrition education, dieticians are also involved in
giving radio talks and writing nutrition related articles in leading news papers.

Any significant achievement/ recognition/ appreciation/ award to department / employee.

? Mrs R.Bose, Mrs Mridula Wattas and Mrs Sunita Malhotra have co-authored a
booklet “Dietetics for You” for the dietetics interns, nurses, and resident doctors.

? Mrs. Madhu Sharma authored two books entitled “Basic Pediatric Nutrition”
published in the year 2009 & “Therapeutic Pediatric Nutrition” published in the year-
2011. She was also awarded in the National Seminar on 11th – 12th June 2007 for her
paper on “the challenges of Malnutrition strategies & intervention “organized by
ISPEN Calcutta, India.

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? Mrs Sunita Malhotra also authored a book “Dietetics in Practice A handbook” for
Graduate and post graduate students of dietetics, nurses, resident doctors and other
health care professionals. She received the “A.N. Radha award” for presenting
scientific paper in the National Conference in 2007 organized by IDA held at Nagpur,
India. She is also the recipient of “Young Investigator Award” in the 16th world
congress of Clinical Nutrition New Delhi, for her scientific paper presentation in the
year 2011.

? Mr. B. N. Behera’s paper along with Dr. Usha Dutta (Associate Prof GE dept.) which
was presented in the Australian Gastroenterology week held in Brisbane in October
2008 won the best paper award. Also his paper along with Dr.Usha Dutta associate
professor on “High Protein Diet elicits better gall bladder contractions than High Fat
Diet” presented at Plenary session of the 50th annual conference of Indian Society of
GE held at Kolkata was awarded the prestigious ISC systopic award in 2009. Mr. B.
N. Behera was also awarded “A.N.Radha award” in the year 2009 for his scientific
paper presentation organized by IDA held at Lucknow, India.