FAQ

IS A REGISTERED DIETITIAN (RD) THE SAME THING AS A NUTRITIONIST?

A Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) are nutrition experts who have met the following criteria:

Completed a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited university
Completed an accredited supervised practice program
Passed a national examination

The RD/RDN credential is nationally recognized and protected. We work with patients to develop nutrition plans and healthier eating habits to help prevent and treat illness. Our services are a billable, meaning our services can be covered by insurances.

On the other hand, the "nutritionist" title is not protected, meaning that it can be used by anyone. While they offer offer some nutrition support, they have not received the same professional training as an RD/RDN. Their services are not usually billable.

Please visit the following links if you would like to learn more:

DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?

YES! We bill insurances directly using the information provided in the referral form. Several insurances cover dietetic services but due to the wide variety in policies, coverage will depend on the patient’s specific policy. If insurance is a factor in referring to us, please let us know

All new patients begin with a minimum 60-minute nutrition assessment to review the patient’s health, weight, and nutritional status.

Follow-up appointments are scheduled based on the patient's needs, but are a minimum 30 minutes in length.

Frequency will depend on patients needs and insurance coverage.

We generally bill insurances for payment, but we also take direct payment. We can discuss coverage or any other out-of-pocket expenses over the phone.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN AN APPOINTMENT?

As an RD, our goal is to help people create healthy food habits and feel confident in their eating choices. To help a patient meet their nutrition goals, we always start with a nutrition assessment. During this time we review weight and diet history, health background, activity, and current nutritional intake. We will then set long and short-term goals based on the kind of nutrition help they are looking for and provide education to help them meet their goals. Since our treatment is highly individualized, the goals will depend on the patient.

Sun City Dietitians also provides services for diabetes related cases. We offer one-on-one support in diabetes education through Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) and trained staff. We also have certified diabetes pump trainers on staff in order to help deliver the latest technology to patients.