Changes in the health care environment including increased patient acuity, budgetary constraints, and decreased length of stay fostered the examination of a rapid nutrition screening process as a component of reengineering the clinical nutrition services. The rapid screen for malnutrition consists of 2 factors, height and weight (% ideal) and change in weight (with interval of change) versus the current which contains 7 factors (including anthropometries, albumin, other labs, diagnosis, and chewing/swallowing ability). Additional information regarding current petite and desire for nutrition information or instruction were obtained. Both the usual nutrition screening process and the rapid screen for malnutrition were conducted on a convenience sample of 349 inpatients (175 medical, 174 surgical). The information obtained by each screening tool was coded as risk or no risk for malnutrition, and referral to RD or diet technician (DT). Of the 350, 20 were excluded due to errors made by the DT. An additional 52 were excluded because risk was assigned by the usual nutrition screen for factors not related to malnutrition, but to prevention (ie, elevated serum cholesterol) or diagnosis. Of the 277 remaining patients, there was agreement between the two screening procedures with respect to assessment of risk for malnutrition in 252 cases (Cohens’ Kappa statistic = 0.933). Risk for malnutrition was identified in 31% (86 patients by the usual screen, and 88 patients by the rapid procedure). The information from the new abreviated screen compared to the current screening process was 94.3% sensitive, specificity was 98.4%, positive predictive value 96.5%, and negative predictive value was 97%. Therefore, we conclude that the rapid screening process will provide similar information to that currently assessed with regard to risk for malnutrition. Modification in the screening process has reduced the amount of time required to complete screening. This DT time has been reallocated to monitoring patient intake and improving patient service. RD time can be redirected towards individualized nutrition assessment of those patients at risk for malnutrition.