Automated Nutrition Delivery: A Systematic Review

Recommended citation: Starr K, Myer E, Boggan JC, et al. Automated Nutrition Delivery: A Systematic Review. Washington, DC: Evidence Synthesis Program, Health Systems Research, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs. VA ESP Project # 09-010; 2025.

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Takeaway

The results of the systematic review show a consistent trend towards positive process, performance, and patient outcomes associated with implementing some form of automated nutrition support delivery to hospitalized patients. Yet available evidence for key outcomes was rated as very low certainty due to study methodological limitations of the included studies. Findings from our qualitative study provide rich complementary evidence of VHA staff experiences with this innovation, which were overall positive.

Context

Food is medicine and many hospitalized patients are at risk of malnutrition during their care. Automating nutritional support delivery offers a way to standardize and document ordering, administering, and monitoring of essential nutritional supports to hospitalized patients. Without such systems, it is difficult to ascertain if the right nutritional products are getting to the right patient at the right time. Yet it is unknown which forms of automation are optimal and to what degree automation optimizes key patient and health care delivery outcomes.

Key Findings

Sixteen studies assessed the impact of automated nutrition delivery innovations in health care delivery and patient outcomes; most studies examined some form of ordering automation. Most studies reported improvements in patient, process, and performance outcomes associated with implementation of some form of automated nutrition delivery to hospitalized patients. Available evidence for key outcomes was rated as very low certainty due to study methodological limitations of the included studies. Findings from qualitative interviews with VHA staff involved in automated nutrition delivery innovations revealed common implementation barriers and facilitators. Yet, overall, VHA staff expressed positive impressions of these innovations.

See also

Automated Nutrition Delivery: A Systematic Review (Management Brief)

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