FL S0550

Designates September 28 to October 2, 2015, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week" in Florida

Recognizes that nutritional status is a direct measure of patient health and that good nutrition helps older adults and vulnerable individuals avoid institutionalization and reduce health care costs

Acknowledges that malnutrition is particularly prevalent in vulnerable populations including older adults, hospitalized patients, and minorities with high rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease

Establishes that malnutrition and illness cause loss of lean body mass leading to longer recovery times from surgery, illness, or disease, with elderly individuals losing lean body mass more quickly than younger adults

Affirms that routine nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment should be incorporated as standard medical care to improve clinical outcomes and reduce health care costs