DIETITIAN, REGISTERED CLINICAL NURSE

Expert Witness No. 1152

South Carolina

EDUCATION

Graduate course work in Clinical Nutrition, Florida State University,Tallahassee, FL

B.S. Nutrition, May 1980, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

CREDENTIALS

Registered Dietitian since 1980

Licensed Dietitian, State of Florida

Licensed Dietitian, State of North Carolina

Licensed Dietitian, State of Georgia

EXPERIENCE

Carolina Nutrition Consultants, Inc.

Columbia, SC.  Owner  (May 1989 - Present)  

CNC, a firm of Registered Dietitians and Certified Dietary Managers, provides consultation in a variety of health care facilities throughout the Southeast.  Consultation includes development and implementation of medical nutrition therapy, evaluation of food services operations, staff development and in-service education, nutrition education/counseling to residents/clients.

Novartis Nutrition Consultant

Nutrition Consultant  (1998 - 2000) 

Review Enteral feedings for Medicare reimbursement guidelines. Implement Enteral feedings and reimbursement protocol in skilled nursing facilities.

Midlands Technical College

Columbia, SC.  Program Coordinator/Instructor  (1996 - Present)

Dietary Manager’s Course

Medcorp Health Systems, Inc.

Columbia, SC.  Director, Nutrition Plus  (June 1987 - May 1989)

Responsible for organization and implementation of Weight Management Programs at Richland Hospital.  Hired and trained all staff.  Responsible for staff of full, part-time, and contracted personnel.  Developed policies and procedures.  Coordinated all aspects of clinics for 200 patients.  Responsible for all accounting and payroll.  Supervised research for several national research projects.  As position evolved, major responsibilities included personnel management, marketing, and new product development.

Beverly Enterprises, Southern Division

Atlanta, GA.  Consultant Dietitian  (May 1986 - May 1987)

Responsible for providing monthly consultation to long term care facilities to evaluate the food service systems; develop nutritional care plans; provide guidance to the administrator;act as liaison to the medical and nursing staff.  Based in Tallahassee, FL; consulted with facilities in FL, GA, and AL.

South Carolina Department Of Health And Environmental Control,

Division Of Certification

Columbia, SC.  Nutrition Consultant  (January 1984 - May 1986)

Conducted surveys of dietary departments and provided consultation and assistance in the organization and management of health care facilities participating in Federal programs.  Facilities included long term care, dialysis centers and hospitals.  Planned, organized and conducted statewide workshops for consultant dietitians and dietary managers.

Family Practice Associates Of Columbia

Columbia, SC.  Nutrition Consultant  (September 1983 - May 1986)

On a part-time basis provided medical nutrition therapy for patients of a firm of private family practice physicians.

Richland Memorial Hospital

Columbia, SC.  Clinical Dietitian  (May 1980 - January 1984)

HONORS

Consultant Dietitian in Health Care Facilities Area III Distinguished Member of the Year 1999

South Carolina Dietetic Association Meritorious Service Award 1997

South Carolina Dietetic Association Meritorious Service Award 1994

South Carolina Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year 1986

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

South Carolina Pressure Ulcer Task Force, 2004 - Present

Governing Board, South Carolina Gerontological Society, 2003 - Present

South Carolina Dietetic Association as the Executive Secretary, 1992 - 2003

American Dietetic Association, member since 1979

Business and Professional Women, member since 1995

Consultant Dietitians in Health Care Facilities

Area III Coordinator, 1992 - 1994

Marketing Committee

Professional Development Committee

Quality Assurance Committee, Co-Chair

Consultant Dietitians in Health Care Facilities, member since 1984

Chairman SC, 1999 - Present

Nominating Committee, 1998

Newsletter Editor, 1992

Chairman, 1991

Chairman-elect, 1990

South Carolina Dietetic Association

Executive Secretary, 1994 - 2003

Media Representative, 1994 - 2002

Treasurer, 1991 - 1994

Public Affairs Chairman, 1987 - 1989

Board of Directors, 1984 - Present

Educational Materials Review Committee, 1983 - 1984

Clinical Dietetics Committee, 1982 - 1983

South Carolina Association of Residential Care Homes, member since 1998

South Carolina Health Care Association, member since 1991

South Carolina Heart Association, member since 1980

Spokesperson to the news media - radio and television

South Carolina Quality Improvement Committee for Nursing Facilities, 2000 - 2003

South Carolina Osteoporosis Coalition, member since 2000

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES CON’T

Columbia-Midlands Dietetic Association, member since 1980

President, 1985 - 1986

President-Elect, 1984 - 1985

Secretary, 1983 - 1984

Coordinator Community Dietetics, 1981 - 1982

Winthrop University Preceptor, AP4 Internship Program, 1999 - Present

PRESENTATION TOPICS

 “Minimizing Your Risk for Litigation,” Fort Mill, SC, March 2004.

 “Nutrition and Hydration – Your Important Role,” Columbia, SC, February 2004.

 “Striving for Professional Excellence,” Columbia, SC, February 2004.

 “Renal Disease and Nutrition Therapy,” Columbia, SC, November 2003.

 “Weight Loss in the Geriatric Resident,” Myrtle Beach, SC, October 2003.

“Managing Weight in Long Term Care,” Columbia, SC, April 2003.

 “Update on Renal Nutrition,”, Columbia, SC, March 2003.

 “Linking Nutrition Issues to Litigation,” Atlanta, GA, October 2002.

 “Meal Time Can be Fun,” Myrtle Beach, SC,  September 2002.

 “Weight and Hydration Management in the Long Term Care Resident,” Columbia, SC, August 2001.

 “Managing Weight in Long Term Care,” Columbia, SC, May 2001.

 “Enteral Nutrition and Reimbursement in Long Term Care,”, Loris, SC, January 2001.

 “Nutrition Trends 2000,” Charlotte, SC, March 2000.

 “The New Survey Process:  Dietary Changes,” Columbia, SC, September 1999.

 “Targeting Nutrition at Risk,”, Charleston, SC, September 1999.

 “The New Survey Process:  Dietary Changes,”, Columbia, SC, July 1999.

 “Menu Evaluation,” Columbia, SC, April 1999 /Raleigh, NC, June 1999.

 “Clinical Nutrition Issues,”Myrtle Beach, SC, October 1998.

 “The Liberalized Geriatric Diet,” Raleigh, NC, October 1998.

Enteral Reimbursement in Long Term Care,” Myrtle Beach, SC, April 1998.

 “Enteral Reimbursement in Long Term Care,” Charleston, SC, April 1998.

 “Nutritional Requirements of the Geriatric Resident,” Columbia, SC, February 1998.

 “ServSafe Training,” Columbia, SC, September 1997.

 “Nutrition Update,” Rock Hill, SC, August 1997.

 “CQI,” Columbia, SC, January 1997 /June 1997.

 “Preventing Weight Loss in Long Term Care,” Florence, SC, February 1996 /Columbia, SC, May 1997.

 “Culinary Cooking Class” for dietary managers, Columbia, SC, January 1996.

“Weight Loss in the Geriatric Resident” for long term care facility nurses, dietary managers, and consultant dietitians, Columbia, SC, June 1995.

“Nutrition for the Athlete,” Columbia, SC, April 1995.

“Nutrition for the Teen Years,” Newberry, SC, March 1995.

“Controlling the Dietary Budget,” for nursing home administrators, Columbia, SC, December 1994.

“Documentation: The Dietary Aspect,”, Columbia, SC, September 1994.

“Enteral Feedings and Reimbursement,” Charleston, SC, May 1994.

“Nutrition for the Alzheimer’s Patient,” Florence, SC, April 1994.

“Enteral Feedings: Guidelines and Reimbursement,” Birmingham, AL, April 1994.

“The Minimum Data Instrument,” Columbia, SC, March 1994.

“The Role of The Consultant Dietitian,”, Little Rock, AK, October 1993

PRESENTATION TOPICS CON’T

“Nutrition Assessment,” Columbia, SC, September 1993.

 “Surviving the Survey Process,”. Columbia, SC, August 1993.

 “What Every Administrator Should Know About Dietary Services,” Columbia, SC, June 1993.

 “Nutrition: Facts and Myths,” Columbia, SC, June 1993.

 “Dietary and Nursing Working Together,” SC, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, May-June 1992.

 “Understanding the Survey Process,”, Columbia, SC, March 1991.

 “Geriatric Nutrition Update,” Greenwood, SC, June 1990.

 “Prime Time Nutrition,” Columbia, SC, March 1989.

 “Objectives of a Weight Management Program,” Orlando, FL, May 1988.

“Principles of Weight Management Programs,” Columbia, SC, May 1987.

“The Survey Process,” Columbia, Greenville, and Florence, SC, March 1985.

“Nutritional Needs of the Geriatric Resident,” Columbia, Greenville, and Florence, SC, April 1984.

“Enteral Feeding: Guidelines and Formulas,” Columbia, SC, August 1983.

“Sodium Restricted Diets,” Columbia, SC, May 1983.

“The Cardiac Diet,” Cardiac Rehab Program Columbia, SC, March 1983.

Numerous television, radio, and newspaper interviews.

PUBLICATIONS

Contributions to publications and video productions available upon request.