Research shows that 62% of North American pediatric hospitals have nutrition support teams that help sick children receive proper nutrition through tubes or IV lines. According to Gram Research analysis of a survey of 47 hospitals, doctors strongly believe these teams improve patient safety and reduce malnutrition, though many hospitals struggle to afford and staff these teams.
Hospitals across North America are using special nutrition support teams to help children get the right food and nutrients when they’re sick. According to Gram Research analysis, these teams work together to make sure kids receive proper nutrition through tubes or IV lines. A new survey found that 62% of hospitals have these teams, and most doctors think they help keep kids healthier and safer. However, many hospitals struggle to start these teams because of money problems and not having enough staff to run them.
Key Statistics
A cross-sectional survey of 47 North American pediatric hospitals found that 62% have nutrition support teams dedicated to coordinating specialized nutrition care for hospitalized children.
Among hospitals with nutrition support teams, 97% review intravenous nutrition orders and 90% recommend nutritional assessment methods, according to a 2026 survey of pediatric medical centers.
More than 50% of surveyed pediatric hospital doctors strongly agreed that nutrition support teams improved patient safety, enhanced nutritional status, and promoted teamwork between different medical specialists.
A 2026 survey of 47 pediatric hospitals found that 33% of hospitals without nutrition support teams had previously tried and failed to establish one, with lack of funding and staff cited as major barriers.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether hospitals in North America have nutrition support teams that help sick children get proper nutrition, and how well these teams work
- Who participated: 47 pediatric hospitals and medical centers across North America that are part of a professional organization for children’s digestive health doctors
- Key finding: Nearly two-thirds of hospitals have nutrition support teams, and doctors strongly believe these teams make kids healthier and reduce malnutrition, but many hospitals can’t afford to start or keep these teams running
- What it means for you: If your child needs special nutrition support in the hospital, there’s a good chance a team of experts will help plan their care. However, not all hospitals have these teams yet, so access depends on where you live and which hospital treats your child
The Research Details
Researchers sent an online survey to 47 pediatric hospitals and medical centers across North America that belong to a professional organization for children’s digestive health specialists. The survey asked about whether hospitals have nutrition support teams, what those teams do, and what problems hospitals face in creating or running these teams. This type of study, called a cross-sectional survey, takes a snapshot of how things are at one point in time rather than following people over months or years.
The survey covered important topics like what tasks the nutrition teams perform, whether doctors think the teams help patients, and what stops hospitals from starting these teams. Researchers looked at answers from hospitals that have nutrition teams and compared them to hospitals that don’t have teams yet.
Understanding how nutrition support teams work in real hospitals helps doctors and hospital leaders know what’s working well and what needs to improve. This information can help other hospitals decide whether to start their own nutrition teams and what resources they’ll need. It also shows which problems are most common, so leaders can find solutions.
This study surveyed 47 hospitals, which is a moderate sample size. The researchers used an established professional organization’s email lists to reach hospitals, which is a good way to find the right people to ask. However, the study only captured a snapshot in time and relied on people’s answers to surveys, which might not always be completely accurate. The study didn’t include hospitals that aren’t part of the professional organization, so results may not represent all hospitals in North America.
What the Results Show
The survey found that 62% of hospitals have nutrition support teams, meaning nearly two-thirds of the hospitals surveyed have these specialized teams. Among hospitals with nutrition teams, almost all of them (97%) review orders for intravenous nutrition, which is nutrition given directly into the bloodstream. About 90% of teams recommend different ways to measure whether a child is getting enough nutrition, and 86% decide whether intravenous nutrition is the right choice for each patient. About 72% of teams also review orders for nutrition given through feeding tubes.
Doctors had very positive views about these teams. More than half of the doctors surveyed strongly agreed that nutrition support teams improved patient safety, helped kids get better nutrition, improved the quality of care, reduced malnutrition, and helped different types of doctors work together better. This shows that doctors believe these teams make a real difference in how well children recover.
Among hospitals that don’t have nutrition support teams, one-third said they had tried to start a team before but weren’t successful. This suggests that starting these teams is challenging for many hospitals. The survey also found that hospitals with nutrition teams vary quite a bit in how often they meet and what exactly they do, even though they all do similar types of work. This shows there’s no single standard way to run a nutrition support team across North America.
This is one of the first studies to look at how nutrition support teams actually work in children’s hospitals across North America. Previous research showed that these teams were helpful, but nobody had surveyed many hospitals to see how common they are or what problems hospitals face in running them. This study fills that gap by showing the real-world picture of nutrition support teams today.
The study only included 47 hospitals, which is a relatively small number. All the hospitals surveyed were part of one professional organization, so the results might not represent hospitals that aren’t members of that group. The study asked doctors to report their own opinions about whether teams help patients, but didn’t measure actual patient outcomes like how much weight children gained or how many got infections. The survey was done at one point in time, so it doesn’t show how things change over years.
The Bottom Line
If your child needs special nutrition support in the hospital, ask whether the hospital has a nutrition support team. These teams appear to help children get better nutrition and stay safer. If your hospital doesn’t have a team, doctors and hospital leaders should consider starting one, though they should plan for the time and money needed to run it properly. High confidence: nutrition support teams provide real benefits based on doctors’ experiences.
Parents of children who need tube feeding or intravenous nutrition should care about this research. Hospital doctors and administrators deciding whether to start nutrition support teams should also pay attention. Children with serious illnesses, digestive problems, or those recovering from surgery are most likely to benefit from these teams.
Benefits from nutrition support teams can start immediately when a child enters the hospital. Doctors can use the team’s advice right away to plan better nutrition. However, starting a new nutrition support team at a hospital typically takes several months of planning and training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do nutrition support teams actually help sick children in hospitals?
Yes, according to a 2026 survey of 47 pediatric hospitals, more than 50% of doctors strongly agreed that nutrition support teams improved patient safety, helped children get better nutrition, and reduced malnutrition rates.
What percentage of hospitals have nutrition support teams?
A survey of 47 North American pediatric hospitals found that 62% currently have nutrition support teams, meaning nearly two-thirds of surveyed hospitals have these specialized teams in place.
Why don’t all hospitals have nutrition support teams?
The main barriers are lack of protected time for staff, budget or funding issues, insufficient staff, and lack of support from different departments. One-third of hospitals without teams had previously tried but failed to start one.
What do nutrition support teams do for hospitalized children?
These teams review nutrition orders, recommend ways to assess if children are getting enough nutrition, decide if intravenous nutrition is appropriate, and review feeding tube orders. They coordinate care between doctors, nurses, and nutrition specialists.
Should I ask if my child’s hospital has a nutrition support team?
Yes, if your child needs special nutrition support through tubes or IV lines. Research shows these teams help improve nutrition and safety, so asking ensures your child gets the best possible nutrition care during hospitalization.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If your child receives nutrition support, track weekly weight gain or loss, feeding tolerance (how well they handle tube feeds), and any nutrition-related complications. Record whether a nutrition team reviewed your child’s care plan.
- Ask your child’s hospital care team whether a nutrition support team is involved in your child’s care. Request a meeting with the nutrition team to understand the nutrition plan and ask questions about feeding goals and progress.
- Keep a log of your child’s nutrition intake, weight changes, and any feeding problems. Share this information with the nutrition support team at each hospital visit. Track improvements in energy levels, growth, and overall health over weeks and months.
This research describes current practices at surveyed hospitals and doctors’ opinions about nutrition support teams. It does not provide medical advice for individual children. If your child needs nutrition support, work with your child’s medical team and hospital nutrition specialists to develop an appropriate nutrition plan. Decisions about nutrition support should be made by qualified healthcare providers based on your child’s specific medical condition and needs.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.