Registered dietitians work best when they work closely with a patient’s doctor. Doctors who collaborate with a dietitian may have improved patient outcomes. Collaborating also allows dietitians to make sure we’re not missing any important health details when it comes to providing the best care for our patients. This helps us make sure that all healthcare providers are all on the same page regarding the patient’s healthcare. Because of that, it is very important that doctors collaborate with a dietitian. Here is a list of doctors (not excluding nurse practitioners and physician assistants) I work with:

1. Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and Pediatricians
   PCPs and pediatricians are the most common doctors I work with. They are a patient’s first line of defense for spotting someone in need of a dietitian. PCPs see their patients at least annually and monitor labs and vitals that are critical to determining what their patients might be at risk for. Pediatricians do the same but they also help make sure young patients are growing well. If they need my assistance, I’ll get a referral from them. Don’t tell the other doctors but my favorite type of doctor to work with is a primary care provider because I love preventing nutrition-related healthcare problems.
2. Nephrologists
   Nephrologists are doctors who specialize in taking care of kidneys and managing kidney-related diseases. Because they are specialists, most people will not see a nephrologist unless there is a concern about the function of their kidneys. Whether someone is born with some kidney issues or acquire it later in life, they may end up seeing a neprhologists. I may get referrals from a nephrologists regarding someone who has chronic kidney disease. I can work with patients from stages 1 to 4. My role in that case would be to help the patient navigate lifestyle choices that could potentially slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease. My initial focus would be to help them control what’s primarily impacting their kidneys. If their kidney damage is a result of uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, I help the patients with that first.
3. Endocrinologists
   Endocrinologists are a type of doctor that specialize in hormone-related medical conditions and metabolic disorders. The most common type of referrals that I get from endocrinologists are for patients with diabetes. My role in those instances would be to help the patient make adjustments that could potentially improve their blood sugars which would in turn improve their hemoglobin A1c. I also work hard to make sure that my patients understand the science behind what is happening to their bodies and why. This makes it easier for them to put their plans into action.
4. Psychiatrists
   Psychiatrists are a type of doctor that specialize in mental health disorders. I get a variety of referrals from psychiatrists. The most common type of referral I may get is for an eating disorder. Eating disorders are a mental health condition that negatively impact a patient’s eating behaviors. There are many kinds of eating disorders. The most well-known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulemia nervosa. There are many more eating disorders and nuanced disordered eating patterns outside of those two common diagnoses. Working closely with a psychiatrist, I try to help patients take steps towards overcoming their eating disorder. It’s very important for psychiatrists to collaborate with a dietitian in this instance because sometimes it can be hard for them to gauge the severity of an eating disorder without a full understanding of nutrition science.
5. Cardiologists
   I don’t get many cardiologists who collaborate with a dietitian but I would love to (*hint hint). The few referrals that I have gotten from cardiologists involve helping a patient manage their hypertension and their cholesterol. In conjunction with medication from their cardiologists, I help these patients make small but mighty changes to improve their blood pressure and lower their blood cholesterol. I am also able to help patients learn to manage low-sodium restrictions.
6. Obstetricians
   Obstetricians are doctors who take care of pregnant women. They provide care during pregnancy, during labor/delivery, and after pregnancy. The majority of referrals that I get from obstetricians involve helping a patient manage their weight trends during their pregnancy. Sometimes I get referrals for managing a gestational diabetes diagnoses or providing some dietary support for elevated blood pressure. Many of these patients may need continued support even after childbirth.

If you are a doctor who would like to collaborate with me, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Check out my web page for medical providers here.