What I Wish Providers Understood About Collaboration and Scope: A Message for Patients

Too often, I meet patients who are overwhelmed, confused, or even frightened—not because of their condition, but because of how it was communicated. Maybe they had labs drawn and were given alarming interpretations. Or they received well-meaning advice that strayed far beyond the provider’s scope. The result? Misinformation, stress, and a burden that shouldn't be yours to carry.

I’ll give you an example.

I had a patient who had some concerning lab results in regards to their lipids. Over 3 months, the patient improved their scores on most lipid markers, but their primary care doctor told them their cholesterol was too high and wanted to start them on statins immediately, and they were so scared. They originally didn't want to, but ended up going through with it even though waiting for another 3 months could have been possible. No shade to using statins to control cholesterol, but still. They were scared to do it.

Providers are constantly telling people they are overweight, obese, etc. but have NO context. Some patients I work with refuse to go to the doctor to have labs done because they are so scared of what providers might say. You really can't counsel someone in re: nutrition therapy w/ no context, it's dangerous. Even if you DO have context, I have heard of providers kind of providing advice based on "what's worked for them" or "what they heard/read.” Some even go so far as to recommend intermittent fasting, and other potentially harmful diet plans –– which is inappropriate especially in the populations I work with (PCOS, Diabetes, Disordered Eating, Binge Eating, etc.).

Care should be collaborative, evidence-based, and rooted in the true expertise of each provider involved. That means if your care involves nutrition—and it often does—it’s okay, even expected, that your dietitian might have deeper insights in that area. That’s not a shortcoming of anyone else. That’s the point of having a team.

So here’s what I ask of my fellow providers: Stay curious. Refer when it’s appropriate. Check in with the team. And if you’re providing a nutrition or nutrition-adjacent thought, idea, or recommendation—think twice and consider referring out.

And to you, the patient: If you receive nutrition advice that feels confusing, alarming, or just doesn’t sit right—pause. You don’t have to act on it immediately. Ask questions. Write it down. Then bring it to a registered dietitian. We can help you make sense of it, fact-check it, and put it in context.