Landmark Southwest Hospital, Dietician PRN

Summary:
Responsible for the assessment and planning of the nutritional care of the patients in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, policies and procedures, and in coordination with the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager to ensure that qualify food service and nutritional care is provided to the patients.

• Essential Functions:
  
  Conducts and ensures clinical nutrition documentation for patients-- including assessment for new admissions as appropriate, reassessment, counseling, food/drug interactions, specialized nutrition support (enteral and parenteral), and discharge planning -- is in accordance with hospital policy and procedure, as well as state and federal regulations, is accurate, informative, and descriptive of the services provided, is within required timeframes, and reflects the patient’s response to the plan of care.  Conducts meal rounds to ensure that patients are receiving foods in the amount, type, consistency, and frequency required to maintain or improve nutritional status and per diet order.
• Participates with the interdisciplinary team in developing, implementing, and evaluating plans of care; attends meetings/conferences to discuss the clinical care of the patient; and communicates patient concerns and response to interventions to interdisciplinary team members and direct care staff.
• Interviews patients, family members, legal representatives, significant others, and staff to obtain diet history, food preferences, and other pertinent information needed to develop and/or update an individualized plan of care, to protect and promote patients’ rights, and accommodate individual needs and preferences.  Involves the patient/family in planning objectives and goals for the patient.  Conducts nutrition education individually and in classes to patients, families, staff, and community as appropriate.
• Ensures a dietary kardex or similar record (electronic or manual) of diet orders and food preferences is accurate and utilized in the Nutrition Services Department.  Coordinates with the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager the review, calculation as needed, editing, and customization of the regular and therapeutic menus to meet the food preferences of the patients in accordance with established policies, procedures, Diet Manual guidelines, standard of practice, and regulations.  Assists the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager with purchasing decisions for food, supplies, equipment, etc. within approved budgets.
• Reviews and provides written approval for therapeutic menus as acceptable and accurate for patient use.  Coordinates with the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager to ensure that all diets ordered by the physician (whether planned in the cycle menu or not) are accurate for therapeutic menu needs or are adjusted as necessary to meet patient needs.  Assists the Nutrition Services Supervisor / Manager with processing diet orders and changes to produce an accurate tray ticket for each patient receiving meal trays and to ensure that patients receive adequate nutrition within prescribed diet order.
• Assists the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager with training Nutrition Services employees including on the job training, orientation classes for therapeutic menu modification, etc.  Maintains appropriate record-keeping requirements for training.  Provides in-service training to facility staff on topics related to Nutrition Services.  Provides feedback and suggestions to improve company policies, procedures, tools, and reference materials to the corporate office and assures manuals (P&P, Diet Manual) are approved and signed within established timeframes and using correct procedures at the facility level.
• Monitors food temperatures and quality at point of service via test trays per Kindred policy, procedures and standards.  Monitors the appropriate ordering and distribution of nourishments, supplements, and meals to patients and takes corrective action when necessary.  Routinely inspects foodservice area(s) and practices for compliance with company policy, procedure, standards, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.  Completes evaluations and develops action plans with the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager items that need improvement.
• Participates in the hospital’s Performance Improvement Program, conducting, aggregating, trending, and acting on data for improvement as needed.  Conducts quality assurance monitors such as test trays, patient satisfaction, and timeliness of clinical functions.  Serves on various committees as required by company standards, regulations, and/or appointment by his/her manager.
• Participates in the survey process.  Instructs staff in matters of conduct and disclosure.  Maintains a presence at the hospital while surveyors are on-site and directs the timely collection of information required by the survey team.  Undertakes corrective action while survey is in progress, if appropriate.  Works with the Nutrition Services Supervisor/Manager and other departments to develop survey plans of correction, as needed.  Routinely communicates issues, concerns, and opportunities for improvement to Nutrition Services Manager and immediate supervisor.
• Assure individual competency and demonstrates same in the provision of all aspects of Medical Nutrition Therapy performed and maintains professional growth and development.
• Maintains good communications and working relationships with all departments in the hospital.  Works cooperatively as a team member with co-workers in all departments of the hospital and maintains excellent working relationship with medical profession and other health related professions.
• Reports all hazardous conditions/equipment to his/her manager immediately.  Performs job duties safely as specified in the physical, sensory, and mental requirements.  Stays abreast of federal regulations for acute hospital care, dietetic registration/licensure, and food safety, as well as state-specific regulations for the state he/she works and incorporates into his/her work as needed.
• Fulfills job responsibilities in accordance with the standards set out in the Company’s Code of Business Conduct, its policies and procedures, the Corporate Compliance Agreement, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable professional standards and codes of ethics.
• Uses independent judgment and discretion on behalf of the organization in the performance of these duties.  Monitors industry trends, new products, current research, and new programs in medical nutrition therapy and foodservice and incorporates into his/her work as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to speak, read, and write in English at a level appropriate for the job and communicate effectively through written and verbal means.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their family members, and at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to be accurate, concise, and detail-oriented
• Knowledge of quantity food production, safe food preparation and handling techniques.
• Knowledge of medical nutrition therapy for patients in a acute care setting.
• Understands principles of growth and development for the entire life span with the ability to provide care appropriate for the adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients as appropriate to the patient population.
• Approximate percent of time required to travel:   

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, Nutrition or related field.

Licenses/Certification:

• Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.
• Membership in the American Dietetic Association strongly preferred.
• License or certification as mandated by the state in which employed. ServSafe Food Safety Certification preferred.

Experience:

• Experience in acute clinical care, nutrition support, and disease-specific nutrition preferred.