A: Registered Dietitians (RD's) are health professionals
specializing in food and nutrition. In order to earn
the nationally-recognized credential of RD, a candidate
must complete a Bachelors Degree in Food and Nutrition
and/or Masters Degree in Nutrition or American Dietetic
internship. RD status also requires successfully passing
the National Registration Exam and accumulating a
sufficient number of on-going Continuing Education
credits annually. A RD is sometimes referred to as
a nutritionist, however, a nutritionist who has not
achieved RD status may not advertise herself or practice
as a Registered Dietitian. Also, in the state of Maryland,
Registered Dietitians are licensed (LD) to prevent
misuse of the term nutritionist. RD's and LD's are
the only health professionals permitted to counsel
patients on medically-necessary dietary intervention.
A: A Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) earns the
designation by successfully completing the Certification
Examination for Diabetes Educators. Candidates must
meet rigorous credential and professional practice
experience requirements to be eligible to take the
examination. Achieving the CDE credential demonstrates
to patients that the health care professional possesses
distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting
quality care for patients with diabetes. There are
currently only 14,000 diabetes educators who hold
the CDE credential nationwide. Rebecca Bitzer, MS,
RD & Associates is fortunate to have a qualified CDE
on staff.
A: Health insurance often covers medical nutrition
therapy (appointments with your dietitian) for diagnoses
that are deemed "Medically Necessary." These
often include: Diabetes, Hypertension (High Blood
Pressure), Sleep Apnea, Food Allergies, Unexplained
Weight Loss/Gain, Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol),
Gastrointestinal Problems, Eating Disorders, Kidney
Disease, Etc. If you are not sure if your insurance
will cover our services, please feel free to call
our office at (301) 474-2499 during our business hours
to discuss your situation. Or, you may review our
online guide
to current insurance coverage requirements.
A: We have appointments available in our Greenbelt
office Monday through Saturday. This includes morning,
afternoon and evening hours. We also have a limited
number of hours available in Annapolis. Our hours
vary from day to day. So, for a complete list of our
hours by location please review our detailed schedule
on the contact page of
this site.
A: Yes, we see people of all ages and we have several
dietitians who specialize in pediatrics. Collectively
we have years of experience in dealing with nutrition
issues related to children including: overweight/underweight
kids, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, food allergies
and eating disorders.
A: Definitely, we encourage a "family approach."
The more the merrier. There is no additional charge
if your spouse or significant other wants to join
you in your session(s).
A: Yes, we have a dietitian on staff who speaks Spanish.
Please let the receptionist know that you would like
a Spanish-speaking dietitian when you set up your
first appointment.
A: Sí, tenemos un dietético en el personal
que es fluido en español. Deje por favor a
recepcionista saber que usted quisiera a dietético
de habla hispana cuando usted instaló su primera
cita.
A: The Registered Dietitian will ask you about your
current eating behaviors, food choices, restaurant
eating, snacks, portion sizes. She will explain, in
detail, how the choices that you have made will have
impacted your current health situation. She will then
begin to help you prioritize the changes that you
need to make in order to improve your health. We believe
in an easy, step-wise approach that increases success
and long-term change.
A: The typical initial consultation lasts approximately
45 minutes to an hour and follow-up visits usually
last 20-30 minutes. We can tailor your appointments
to meet your needs if you require more or less time
to achieve your goals.
A: We have a very individualized approach depending
upon your current diet, your goals and the number
and severity of the health issues that you face. Ideally
we like to work with you weekly, bi-weekly or monthly
depending upon your needs. This approach provides
an opportunity to work with you during various eating
situations throughout all the seasons of the year
(holidays, vacations, barbecues, etc.). Some clients
need more intensive follow-up than others -- it varies
from client to client. For instance, if you're a disciplined,
self-starter you will require less supervision. If
you need more structure and accountability, we are
here to help you as well.
Q: How early do I
need to come to my first appointment?
A: You should plan on arriving at least fifteen minutes
before your scheduled appointment time. This will
give you enough time to fill out paperwork and allow
us time to photocopy your insurance card, etc. However,
if your time is at a premium, you can print out our
registration form at home and fill it out prior to
your first visit. If you come with the paperwork filled
out, you should still plan on arriving at least five
minutes before your appointment. Click on the following
link if you'd like to download and print our registration
form.
A: You will need to bring your insurance card, photo
ID, referral from your physician (if required) and
any medical lab or blood work results (printouts)
if you have them. Also, it is helpful to have a list
of medications that you are currently taking. If your
insurance requires you to make a co-pay, or if you
are a self-pay client you should also have payment
for services. We accept cash, check or visa, master
and discover cards.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided here
is to help make informed decisions about your health. It is not a substitute
for the advice or treatment given by your doctor or dietitian. Please consult
with a registered dietitian or your doctor if you have any questions about
the information on this website.
Rebecca
Bitzer, MS, RD & Associates (formerly Changing Weighs Clinical Nutrition
Services) Nutrition counseling by Registered Dietitians for weight loss, diabetes,
gestational diabetes, CDE (certified diabetes educator), insulin pump trainer,
metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, PCOS, weight loss surgery, resting metabolic
rate (RMR) ReeVue and BodyGem, basal metabolic rate, grocery store tours, easting
disorders including anorexia and bulimia, food allergies, pregnancy, hypoglycemia,
osteoporosis, high blood pressure, digestive problems, kidney disease, celiac
disease, irritable bowel syndrome, vegetarian eating plans, migraines, migraine
headaches and healthy eating. Offices are located in Greenbelt, Annapolis and
Mount Airy in Maryland. We serve Prince George's County, MD including: Adelphi,
Beltsville, Berwyn, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Bowie, Capitol Heights, Cheverly,
Clinton, College Park, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Forestville, Glenn Dale,
Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Kettering, Landover, Landover Hills, Langley Park, Lanham,
Seabrook, Largo, Laurel, Mitchellville, New Carrollton, Riverdale, Suitland,
Temple Hills, University Park, Upper Marlboro; Montgomery County, MD including:
Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Burtonsville, Colesville, Kensington, Damascus, Kensington,
North Bethesda, Rockville, Sandy Spring, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton;
Frederick County, MD including: Emmitsburg, Frederick, Ijamsville, Mount Airy,
New Market; Anne Arundel County, MD including: Annapolis, Arnold, Baltimore,
Cape Saint Claire, Churchton, Crofton, Crownsville, Davidsonville, Deale, Eastport,
Edgewater, Fort Meade, Galesville, Gambrills, Glen Burnie, Hanover, Harwood,
Linthicum, Lothian, Maryland City, Mayo, Millersville, Naval Academy, Odenton,
Pasadena, Riva, Severn, Severna Park, Sherwood Forest.
