We all know that IDDSI is here to stay, however, there are some complexities in shifting from a less detailed model to a more robust system. It can be challenging to try to figure out all of the moving parts. That’s why we created our Ultimate Guide to IDDSI — to help you begin your IDDSI journey amidst these complexities.

You’ll use these posters to train your team on IDDSI testing methods, reinforce training concepts, and develop a culture of safety.

Hospital dietitians need easy-to-follow instructions on implementing IDDSI. This five-step checklist will help you adopt IDDSI in a streamline way.

Long-term care dietitians need easy-to-follow instructions on implementing IDDSI. This five-step checklist will help you adopt IDDSI in a streamlined way.

We’re excited to share that we created an IDDSI Community Group on LinkedIn so that dietitians, speech language pathologists, food service leaders, industry partners, and other professionals working with IDDSI can support each other.

“I have found that having a strong foundational understanding of IDDSI by all stakeholders makes progress smoother and quicker. “

At Roche Dietitians, we receive the most questions about Minced & Moist out of any IDDSI level. As we’ve spent time working with organizations that are implementing IDDSI, we’ve noticed dietitians across hospitals and long-term care communities are getting stuck on this level.

Here is a response to a question that we recently got about “Is IDDSI mandatory”

Individuals who are served IDDSI Pureed (Level 4) have a serious swallowing disorder called dysphagia.

Chances are that the foodservice departments at other facilities don’t define the term “mechanical soft” in the same way you do. This not only creates confusion when receiving diet orders from other facilities, but it also puts individuals with dysphagia at risk for choking.

You’re likely already serving bite-sized pieces of food, but what really defines the word “bite-sized”?

We know that learning about IDDSI is a complex undertaking, and we’ve found that having a deep understanding of each IDDSI level is a good place to start. This post will walk you through IDDSI Regular Easy to Chew (Level 7) in detail, including:

Navigating the complexities of diet modifications can be challenging, but the United States IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG) offers valuable guidance on managing exceptions within the IDDSI framework. USIRG developed a FAQ that provides essential information on handling bread and mixed consistencies in diet orders.

For clear communication, time efficiency, and patient safety with texture-modified diets, we need to use IDDSI terminology correctly. To help with this, the United States IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG) has developed a comprehensive guide on best practices for IDDSI language usage in diet orders. This resource is designed to help healthcare professionals implement the IDDSI Framework effectively.

the US IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG) provides crucial resources on IDDSI.org, offering detailed guidance and FAQs to help ensure the safety and well-being of individuals with swallowing difficulties. due to the specific characteristics of gelatin/Jell-O and the variability of products, the best practice is to include it only on Regular (IDDSI Level 7) and Thin Liquid (Level 0) menus unless your IDDSI testing indicates otherwise. Facility-specific testing and speech pathologist assessments can offer more tailored guidance

As IDDSI implementation gains momentum, you might ask yourself, “Are we making enough progress on integrating IDDSI into our organization?” How do you compare?

Margaret Roche was recently a guest on The Boelter Wire Podcast, where she discussed how organizations can improve their food quality and safety with IDDSI

Corn is of those foods that is hard to make into a texture……….

“Why should we make changes to textures that are currently working well for our clientele?

“Is IDDSI adaptable to an individual’s needs or do the levels need to be followed correctly every time?