Practical approaches to outcomes evaluation

Clinical dietitians are encouraged to conduct outcomes studies to demonstrate the value of medical nutrition therapy. This article describes steps in outcomes measurement, offers 10 guidelines for success, and provides a list of resources to guide dietetic practitioners as they design and manage the outcomes measurement process. Practical examples from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation show how clinical dietitians integrate outcomes research into daily practice; use results of these studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of nutrition therapy to administrators, physicians, and others; and employ outcomes measurement as the cornerstone of continuous quality improvement of dietetic practice at the institution.