Ready-to-Hang (RTH) Enteral Feeding

What's changing

We're switching to 1‑Liter Ready-to-Hang bottles

We are no longer ordering cartons for the bottles and are switching to 1‑liter Ready-to-Hang (RTH) formula. Because we still have varying carton stock on hand, the switch will happen gradually throughout the summer. Until a formula is converted, the kitchen will continue to send up the TF bottle and one set of tubing, just as we do now.

What stays the same: You still use a flush bag, and pump programming is unchanged (same rate and water-flush settings). Keep changing the syringe at the 24‑hour mark for medication and flush administration. What's different: instead of a Y‑site set with a feeding bag you fill from cartons, you now use the RTH spike set — the spike goes directly into the 1‑liter RTH bottle — paired with the flush bag.

Which setup for which formula

CONTINUE: two-bag system
fill feeding bag from cartons + flush bag

Suplena®Novasource® Renal

START: Ready-to-Hang bottle
RTH spike set + flush bag

Glucerna®Jevity®Vital AF®Osmolite®

Bring in only what you need

As we transition, please do not bring all of a patient's supplies into the room at once. Take in only what is needed, when it is needed.

✓ DO

Bring in only the bottle of TF (and cartons) at the time it is needed.
Send unopened, extra TF back to the kitchen for re-stock.
Keep extra supplies out of the room until use.

✗ DON'T

Don't stockpile a patient's full day of TF in the room.
Don't return TF once it's been in a patient room — even unopened, it can't be re-stocked.
Don't open more than is needed for the current feeding.

Why this matters: Once a bottle of TF has been in a patient's room, we cannot take it back for re-stock — even if it was never opened. Bringing in more than is needed means that formula is thrown away. Following this prevents wasting large amounts of tube feed and keeps supplies available for every patient.

Step-by-step

RTH Setup Procedure

Use clean technique throughout to avoid contamination. Click Next, use the dots, press Play, or use your arrow keys.

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Tip: ← / → arrow keys navigate steps

Safety

Hang Time & Reminders

Facility policy: change the RTH container and feeding set every 24 hours. The manufacturer states a new RTH container with a new feeding set and clean technique can hang up to 48 hours — but our practice is to change at 24 hours. Use only one feeding set per RTH container.

Remember

If the feeding set is disconnected, cover the adapter at the distal end with the provided adapter cover to reduce touch contamination. Discard the cover when you discard the feeding set.
Store unopened containers between 32° and 95°F in a dry area or closed cabinet.
Use universal precautions if there is potential for contact with body fluids during connection.
Never add any substances to the container — this can introduce contaminants and drastically reduce safe hang time.

Always follow your standard procedures and the manufacturer's directions for use. Questions? Please reach out — thank you for helping reduce waste and keep our patients well fed.