Food and Nutrition Services

    About Us


The Department of Food and Nutrition Services is one of the largest departments at UI Hospitals and Clinics. The department is committed to patient care through our clinical dietitian services and patient meal service, research, and education through our dietetic internship. 

The Food and Nutrition Department provides services for all patient populations including pediatric, neonatal, adolescent, adult, and geriatric.  Service to specialty units includes the following:  Burn, Renal Center, Oncology and Hematology, Transplant, Geriatric, Growth Clinic, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Digestive Disease Clinic, OB/GYN, Eating Disorders, and Outreach.

Clinical Nutrition Services Provides:

  • Timely nutrition assessment, counseling, nutrition education and instruction as ordered by the medical staff and/or as defined in departmental policies to meet the needs of patients’ various backgrounds
  • Clinical nutrition care is provided by 32 Registered and Licensed Dietitians with assistance from dietetic clerks to a diverse patient population
  • Clinical nutrition services provides services to both inpatients and outpatients of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  • Contact a dietitian

Food Services Provides:

  • Nutritionally adequate, attractive, and satisfying meals to patients, staff, visitors, and guests; with accurate diet modifications for patients as ordered by the medical staff
  • A safe and sanitary food service environment, according to the standards of quality as established by federal, state, and local agencies
  • The Department of Food and Nutrition Services employs 345 staff members comprising a total of about 250 Full-Time Equivalents.
  • Patient Food Service is provided for hospital inpatients through room service.
  • Retail Food Service is provided for all staff, faculty, students, visitors, guests, and patients (as appropriate) through Compass Express, Fountain Dining Room, Atrium Dining Room, Marketplace Dining Room, 6OR Dining Room, "I"-Stop Café, and Melrose Dining Room.  The Food and Nutrition Department is committed to providing healthy menu choices including a daily “heart healthy” menu item.
  • Vending Service is provided in various locations throughout the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  Vending machines include snacks, hot and cold beverages, and cold food.  The locations of the machines are identified in the department specific policy.
  • Catering Service is provided for any University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics event on a scheduled basis.

Education

The Department of Food and Nutrition Services is committed to education.  The department has conducted a dietetic internship since 1923.  The UI Hospitals and Clinics Dietetic Internship Program is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council For Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  The dietetic internship is a 10-month generalist program offering management, clinical, research, and community experiences along with 9 hours of graduate credit in the College of Public Health and Carver College of Medicine.