Home Enteral Nutrition program

Is a program for children who medically require a semi-elemental or elemental formula (and tube supplies if needed) as a sole source of nutrition. The most common indication is for the treatment of Cow Milk Protein Allergy. 

 Polymeric formulas will be provided only for children with Crohn’s disease who require exclusive enteral nutrition therapy or have Crohn’s disease and have demonstrated impaired linear growth.

For more information see HEN website

For Professionals

Patients with complicated or difficult to manage feeding impairment, enteral nutrition or intestinal failure that require multidisciplinary care are felt to be the most appropriate patients for our CFNS team. 

Feeding impairment
Feeding impairment can be defined as the inability or the refusal to eat sufficiently to support growth and maintain adequate nutritional stores. They may be related to an underlying medical condition, swallowing difficulties, oral-motor difficulties, sensory food aversions, a poor appetite or behavioral challenges.

Enteral nutrition
We may provide consultative services or ongoing management of enteral nutrition in children with complex medical, nutritional and feeding needs, including but not limited to:  transition from enteral to oral nutrition complicated by a feeding disorder or feeding intolerance

Intestinal failure
We may provide consultative services or ongoing management of infants and children with or at risk for intestinal failure, including but not limited to:

• Home parenteral nutrition (all infants and children on home parenteral nutrition are followed by the CFNS)
• Congenital, acquired or functional short bowel syndrome
• History of intestinal resections
• History of intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, omphalocele

Failure to Thrive
We may provide consultative services or ongoing management of infants and children with failure to thrive that has not resopnded to ongoing nutrition intervention. 

If community supports are available, the CFNS will provide consultative services only or short-term medical management, nutrition counseling and feeding therapy to children with complex nutritional and feeding needs that are refractory to treatment or difficult to manage by the healthcare team. The child’s pediatrician and community supports must be aware and in agreement with a referral to the CFNS. The CFNS will work closely with the community to ensure that the child’s complex nutritional and feeding needs are met. 

Education

Education

The CFNS is committed to providing education and to supporting community resources within British Columbia. For further information regarding education opportunities, please contact us or by phone at (604) 875-2345, local 5886.