Assessing the Nutrition Support Team.

The development of clinical nutrition in the past few years has occasioned a rapid proliferation of hundreds of nutrition support teams across the country. Data available in several surveys of these teams suggest that they are so likely to differ from one another that they scarcely merit a common name. Some standard is clearly needed. A formulation of the essential features that should be found in every NST is presented. In light of this conceptual framework, data on the efficacy of NSTs are discussed. It is suggested that, although there is enough favorable evidence in cost-effectiveness for a hospital to establish an NST, the full potential of the NST as the proper repositor of a new branch of medicine (Clinical Nutrition) has yet to be widely recognized and properly tested.