How can I access a Registered Dietitian?
Dietitians empower their patients, clients, and communities to embrace food, to understand it, and to enjoy it. The advice and information they provide is tailored to their clients and patients personal needs and challenges, including taste and accessibility. They translate the science of nutrition in terms everyone can understand to support healthy living for all New Brunswickers.
You can access services from a Registered Dietitian in different ways:
Clinical Dietitians at Health Authorities
New Brunswick Health Authorities have facilities and programs that offer dietitian services. Some facilities and programs allow you to self-refer and others require a referral from your family physician or specialist. The dietitian services in these facilities and programs would be covered or paid by your New Brunswick Medicare.
List of facilities and programs offering clinical nutrition at Horizon Health Network:
– Click this link to access the list (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
List of facilities and programs offering clinical nutrition at Vitalité Health Network:
– Vitalité Health Centres and Clinics
– Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, the Veterans’ Health Centre, and the Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital
– Edmundston Regional Hospital
– Lamèque Hospital and CHC
– Enfant-Jésus RHSJ Hospital
– Restigouche Zone
– Chaleur Regional Hospital
Public Health Dietitians at Health Authorities
The practice of nutrition in public health includes the assessment, promotion, protection and improvement of health and the prevention of nutrition-related diseases. Public health dietitians use a variety of health promotion strategies to help build healthy communities. They also collaborate with the Healthy Families, Healthy Babies program to help expectant mothers have a healthy pregnancy, support parents and families, and refer parents to appropriate community resources.
For more information, consult a dietitian at your local public health unit:
– Horizon Health Network
– Vitalité Health Network
Private Practice Dietitians
Many dietitians work with clients on a fee-for-service basis. Dietitians offer a wide variety of services including: nutrition counselling for individuals or groups, writing, presentations, menu development and nutrient analysis. A physician’s referral is not required. These dietitian services would not be covered or paid by your New Brunswick Medicare; however, many Canadians have employee health benefits plans and most major insurers include dietitian services in their standard plan.
If you are looking for a dietitian in private practice for yourself, a family member, or your organization, click here.
Retail Store Dietitians
Some grocery stores have dietitians who offer individual counseling services, informative class sessions ranging from food trends to managing your diabetes, community presentations and healthy cooking classes (complimentary or fee-for-service basis). Consult the Atlantic Superstore Retail Dietitians Directory to find a dietitian near you. A physician’s referral is not required. These dietitian services would not be covered or paid by your New Brunswick Medicare; however, many Canadians have employee health benefits plans and most major insurers include dietitian services in their standard plan.
Diabetes Education Centres
If you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes, you can ask your family physician or self-refer to a publicly funded Diabetes Education Centre in New Brunswick.
– Horizon Health Network Diabetes Education Centres in New Brunswick
– Vitalité Health Network Health Clinics and Centres (contact your local health clinic or centre to see if they offer diabetes individual or group sessions with a dietitian)
The New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program
The New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program (EMP) provides home and community-based health care, including dietitian services, to people of all ages in New Brunswick. For more information on the EMP, please contact your local EMP office or your family physician.
Fee-for-Service Basis
Dietitian services are covered under many employee health care plans. The majority of group health insurance companies offer dietitian services but employers do not always choose to add them to your plan. Check your plan today! If your benefits don’t cover dietitian services, share this resource with your employer.