The incidence of malnutrition in hospitals can exceed50% This is quite concerning because a patient’snutritional status plays a vital role in the recoveryfrom illness. Not only do poorly nourished patientshave a complication rate up to 20 times higher thantheir well-nourished counterparts,2–4 but also theyhave longer hospitalizations, increased healthcarecosts, and a higher mortality rate.5–8 All too often,healthcare providers fail to treat malnutrition aggressivelybecause of its insidious and slowly progressivenature. Thus, a dependable care plan is needed whichincreases timely recognition of malnutrition and initiatesearly intervention when appropriate.The American Society for Parenteral and EnteralNutrition guidelines state that nutrition screeningshould be the first step in developing an overall nutritionalcare plan for hospitalized patients.9 Ideally,nutrition screening identifies patients who are malnourishedor who are at risk for malnourishment andthereby alerts clinicians that such individuals need full