Clinical Dietitian

Mercyhealth•Harvard, IL

24d

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian screens and assesses patients for nutritional risk, gathers nutrition history, reviews medical records and anthropometric information, and prepares nutrition assessments with appropriate diet recommendations. The role plans nutrition care goals, develops and implements plans of care based on assessed needs and available resources, documents care, and evaluates and follows up on nutritional outcomes. The dietitian consults with physicians and other healthcare professionals, contributes to interdisciplinary rounds and clinical meetings, and communicates nutrition-related concerns to clinical staff. The position also coordinates foodservice activities for the Care Center. This includes monitoring food quality, meal service, food safety, sanitation, prescribed diets, resident choices and dignity, and compliance with applicable regulations. The dietitian reviews foodservice logs and audits, recommends and implements improvements, provides staff in-service training, contributes to performance improvement, supports menu and policy updates, and collaborates with the Team Leader, foodservice staff, nursing staff, and Care Center Administrator. Additional duties include nutrition education, maintaining records and productivity data, assisting with programs and policies, and maintaining continuing education requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in Dietetics, Food Service, Food and Nutrition, or a related field.
Completion of an accredited or approved supervised practice program.
Registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
State certification or licensure meeting state-specific laws for practice as a Dietitian.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Specialty certification.

Responsibilities

Screen and assess patients for nutritional risk using nutrition history, medical records, and anthropometric information.
Prepare nutrition assessments and recommend appropriate diet prescriptions.
Plan nutrition care goals, document care, and develop and implement plans based on assessed needs and available resources.
Evaluate nutritional care and provide follow-up and continuity of care.
Consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals regarding patients' nutritional needs and diet restrictions.
Organize daily work and communicate with clinical nutrition staff to identify priorities.
Participate in clinical meetings and interdisciplinary care rounds, providing input on patient nutrition status.
Discuss nutrition-related problems with medical, nursing, and ancillary staff to improve the nutrition status of assigned patients.
Maintain accurate records, assist with statistical analysis, and complete monthly clinical productivity data.
Assist in developing programs, business plans, policies, and procedures as needed.
Provide nutrition education to patients, the community, students, and healthcare professionals, and develop related materials and programs.
Maintain continuing education units as required for registration and licensure; attend mandatory in-services and complete requested online education.
Participate in food tastings, test trays, and meal rounds to monitor food quality, temperatures, handling, and sanitation; communicate findings and recommend improvements.
Inspect meals for conformity with prescribed diets and standards for palatability and appearance, and oversee meal service to Care Center residents.
Monitor resident dignity and choices, a homelike environment, food safety and presentation, and appropriate nutrition and dietary interventions.
Conduct foodservice sanitation audits, take immediate corrective action when indicated, and report results to the Team Leader, foodservice staff, and Care Center Administrator.
Review foodservice logs for compliance, including cooking, cooling, reheating, dish machine, refrigerator and freezer temperatures, and resident snack offering logs.
Organize and deliver foodservice staff in-service training on food safety, sanitation, therapeutic diets, portion sizes, and related regulatory requirements.
Work with the Team Leader on performance improvement indicators and quarterly data collection and reporting.
Serve as a liaison between the Foodservice Department and the Care Center.
Help review and update the Foodservice Department policy and procedure manual.
Monitor foodservice staff practices involving sanitation, hand hygiene, food handling, cross-contamination, and potentially hazardous foods; attend staff huddles to communicate practices and changes.
Work with the Team Leader on new or updated menu programs, spreadsheets, and recipes.
Assist the Team Leader and foodservice management with monitoring departmental compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Assist the Team Leader with human resource matters involving current staff and selection of new staff, in conjunction with Human Resources.
Update resident diet sheets, meal diet tickets, therapeutic diet tickets, and foodservice productivity sheets as needed.
Review recipes for HACCP protocols and safe handling of potentially hazardous foods.
Assess foodservice procedures for improvements in productivity, efficiency, and food safety.
Collaborate with the Clinical Dietitian on dietary interventions for Care Center residents.