Nutrition support for better health

The nutrition clinic at the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre turns confusing food advice into simple steps that help clients feel better. Whether they’re dealing with digestion issues, weight concerns or recovery after a hospital stay, clients get one-on-one support from a registered dietitian in a way that suits their schedule. 

Help with many health concerns 

The nutrition clinic serves patients who need personalized support with their diet and nutrition. People come to the clinic for many reasons — to deal with malnutrition, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, weight management, prediabetes or heart health or simply to feel better through food. No matter what their symptoms are, clients get help from the clinic every step of the way. 

“We assess each person’s needs, address their nutrition-related health concerns and set clear goals, then teach them what they need to achieve them,” says Amanda Heinrich, a registered dietitian who has worked with Covenant Health since 2001 and in her current role since 2008. 

Where patients come from 

The clinic gets referrals from a variety of places. 

"A good percentage of our referrals are from the (Grey Nuns) hospital,” says Amanda. “A lot of our referrals come from our gastroenterologists there."  

The clinic also sees patients referred by: 

• hospital dietitians who want patients to get followup care or teaching at home 

• other hospital specialists, including obstetricians who care for pregnant women 

• other clinics such as the menopause clinic or osteoporosis clinic 

• walk-in clinics and medical centres that don't have a dietitian on staff 

• doctors or nurse practitioners for children who need nutrition help for things like picky eating, weight-related concerns, low iron or constipation 

Helping patients after hospital stays 

The clinic plays an important role in supporting patients who are going home from the hospital, especially those who aren't getting enough nutrition. 

"In-patient dietitians often refer to us to help support patients once they are discharged home —  through education and goal setting to optimize their nutrition," says Amanda. 

This followup care helps patients stay healthy at home and avoid going back to the hospital. 

Choice in delivery of support  

Patients can choose how they want to conduct their appointments. They can come to the clinic in person, talk on the phone or meet with staff virtually to get the support they need in a manner that suits their lifestyle. 

"Since the pandemic, we’ve allowed clients to choose how they want to meet with us," Amanda says. "I prefer in person or virtually because even with virtual meeting software we can share our screen to show clients information visually." 

A more comfortable setting 

Many of the clinic's patients have health concerns but aren't seriously ill. For them, coming to the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre may feel better than going to a hospital. 

"My patients may have a condition, but they're not really sick per se,” says Amanda. “So going into a hospital setting may be a little bit more intimidating or stressful than coming into a wellness-focused centre like this."  

The health centre was designed with a heavy focus on patient experience. Its spaces were built to include comfortable communal areas, greenery and natural building materials that all function together to make it a warm and inviting place to visit. 

The team 

The nutrition clinic has a small but mighty team. Amanda works as the main dietitian, and Tracey Paddick also helps part time when she's not working with the cardiac rehabilitation program. Two other staff members handle booking appointments and provide general administrative support. 

When the clinic gets busy with referrals, dietitians from other Covenant Health locations help by doing virtual appointments. 

Working together 

Being in the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre means the nutrition clinic can work more closely with other services. Amanda already works with the cardiac rehabilitation program, and she sees chances to connect with other clinics too. 

“Here, other clinics can see our work, connect with us and help to share the importance of proper nutrition with their clients," she says. 

Patients also benefit from having other services nearby. If they need to have blood work or to pick up prescriptions from a pharmacy, they can get everything done under one roof. 

Natural light and new spaces 

Staff and visitors alike are thrilled with a variety of the centre’s features, says Amanda. She is particularly happy about the natural light from the centre’s abundance of windows. 

"I've worked in the basement at the Grey Nuns hospital for years, so the windows are really nice for myself and the patients," she says. 

Another unique feature of the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre is the demonstration kitchen. Amanda hopes to use it in the future to teach patients cooking skills and help them feel more confident about preparing healthy meals. 

Connected care 

The nutrition clinic is part of a larger group of outpatient services at the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre that previously operated out of the nearby Grey Nuns Community Hospital. Having all these clinics under one roof alongside a variety of other healthcare-related services such as a pharmacy and laboratory makes it easier for people to get the care they need. 

The nutrition clinic takes a personal approach to helping people improve their health through better eating habits and practical support in a community setting.