Midland Health Partners with Junum to Improve Malnutrition Care

Midland Memorial Hospital has partnered with Junum to help identify, diagnose and treat patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.  Junum’s Malnutrition Clinical Decision Support solution, MalnutritionCDS™, is Junum’s flagship product and delivers key nutrition insights for physicians and dietitians caring for malnourished patients. The software is integrated directly within Midland’s Cerner electronic medical record, helping organize information and inform clinical decisions as early as possible. The software helps dietitians document clinical findings of malnutrition to support physicians’ diagnoses, so they can visualize treatment impact and intervene sooner. 

“Malnutrition is not just a condition; it’s a silent saboteur of patient care. Malnutrition slows healing and recovery and can cause patients to experience longer hospital stays, higher costs, and increased risk of mortality. With Junum, our registered dietitians will bring malnutrition into focus for our providers. Together, we are committed to guaranteeing that every patient receives compassionate care tailored to their unique needs,” explains Kaitlyn Greb RD, LD, Director of Food and Nutrition at Midland Memorial Hospital.

Molly Hegarty, MS, RDN, Founder and CEO of Junum echos, “Junum is excited to partner with Midland Health to drive awareness for malnutrition and provide clinicians with the tools to improve care for this vulnerable population.”

Malnutrition Awareness Week 2023 - Nutrition Care is a Patient Right

Malnutrition Awareness Week is an annual, multi-organizational campaign created by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) to spotlight nutrition’s vital role in health and recovery and to educate the public on the importance of discussing their nutrition status with their healthcare professionals, especially when they are hospitalized. Not only is malnutrition in patients a serious health concern that delays healing and recovery, but also costly as hospital costs for patients with malnutrition are 73% higher than for those who are not malnourished.

Addressing Food Insecurity Inside and Outside the Hospital

In Texas, 13% of Texas households — 1 in 8 Texans — experience food insecurity (Hunger in Texas, n.d.), which can put individuals at higher risk for malnutrition and its comorbidities. When hospitals can accurately diagnose malnutrition and recognize food insecurity during a patient’s hospital stay, they can provide referrals to programs like food banks, meal delivery services or nutrition education programs — helping to improve their health for years to come. 

About Junum

Junum is founded and led by Molly Hegarty, a Registered Dietitian and engineer. The company helps hospitals understand and address malnutrition to maximize the value of their clinical teams, drive revenue and deliver exceptional patient care. Our intuitive tools operate within existing EHR workflows, giving clinicians easy access to the nutrition insights they need to drive improved outcomes. Visit junum.io for more information.

About Midland Health

Midland Health is a system of healthcare providers in Midland, Texas, with Midland Memorial Hospital at the center of their operations. Since 1950, Midland Memorial Hospital has exemplified excellence in patient care, medical education and community service. The mission and vision to lead healthcare for greater Midland and make Midland the healthiest community in Texas was established with the creation of Midland Health in 2014, expanding the healthcare footprint and impact through a coordinated system of providers. As Midland Memorial Hospital, a not-for-profit with 546 licensed beds, drives much of the work, the guiding principles behind Midland Health show a commitment to improving the community by reinvesting volunteered time and finances into the health of west Texas.

To learn more about Midland Health, visit midlandhealth.org.

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