Verified standards of professional practice for South African dietetics professionals: Part 2: The indicators

  • C M Viviers University of Pretoria
  • G J Gericke University of Pretoria

Abstract

Accountability is coming to be one of the most important trends in health care in the 21st century. Further resource constraints compel dietitians to find new strategies that allow doing more with less. Three keys to the success of an organisation and profession were identified, namely excellence, innovation, and anticipation. Excellence is at the base of the list because it is essential for survival in the 21st century, therefore requiring superior therapeutic/clinical nutrition quality, superb service, and innovation. Quality of health care, including nutritional care, could be considered as a ‘value’, and should be identified and ‘operationalised’ for measurement. This can be achieved through the measurement and evaluation of services according to professional standards. One of the key aspects in a Total Quality Management (TQM) culture is the establishment, maintenance and review of key quality standards.

Author Biographies

C M Viviers, University of Pretoria
MDiet Division of Human Nutrition
G J Gericke, University of Pretoria
MDiet Division of Human Nutrition
Published
2008-02-29
How to Cite
Viviers, C., & Gericke, G. (2008). Verified standards of professional practice for South African dietetics professionals: Part 2: The indicators. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 20(4). Retrieved from http://sajcn.co.za/index.php/SAJCN/article/view/233
Section
Original Research