Diabetes Educator

St. Luke’s University Health Network•Palmerton, PA

About The Position

The Diabetes Educator provides individualized diabetes self-management education and training to individuals and groups in accordance with the Scope of Practice and professional standards for Diabetes Educators. The role collaborates with program participants to assess learning needs, develop individualized education and follow-up plans, deliver interactive and skills-based instruction, and evaluate learning and program outcomes. The educator documents services and outcomes, facilitates a Diabetes Support Group, and coordinates with healthcare professionals and other services to address participant needs. The position also supports diabetes care and education across the network by participating in policy and procedure development, hospital and community education programs, interdisciplinary committees, and ongoing professional education. The educator is expected to maintain confidentiality, follow organizational policies and safety requirements, demonstrate service excellence and performance improvement, use resources responsibly, and provide care and communication appropriate to the age of each patient.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian.
Registered Dietitian who is a certified diabetes educator or eligible to become one; eligibility for certification may be considered.
At least 1 year of experience providing diabetes education; 2–5 years is preferred.
15 contact hours within the past year in diabetes and diabetes clinical and educational subjects.
Maintain 15 hours of continuing education annually in diabetes, related topics, behavior change, and self-management education strategies.
Ability to meet the described physical and sensory requirements, including sitting, standing, walking, computer and hand use, occasional lifting and varied movements, and hearing and vision capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Certification as a Diabetes Educator; eligibility for certification may be considered.
Experience with insulin pump therapy.
Two to five years of experience providing diabetes education.

Responsibilities

Collaboratively develop educational goals, learning objectives, and an individualized education plan with program participants.
Collect participant assessment data using the AADE framework collaboratively and on an ongoing basis.
Provide educational interventions using primarily interactive, collaborative, skills-based training methods.
Facilitate the Diabetes Support Group.
Collaboratively develop an individualized follow-up plan with each participant.
Evaluate educational services by measuring attainment of learning objectives.
Conduct follow-up assessments after DSME/T services using outcome measures from the AADE7 Continuum of Outcomes Framework.
Document assessment data, education plans, services provided, and evaluation results in participant education records.
Work collaboratively with team members and communicate with them as needed.
Identify needs that are outside the instructor's scope or expertise and arrange additional services to address them.
Apply teaching and learning expertise to improve clinical outcomes.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals, including nursing, medical staff, nutrition, administration, and pharmacy, regarding diabetes education and care.
Participate in developing policies and procedures related to diabetes care and education.
Serve as a resource for diabetes education across the network.
Participate in hospital and community diabetes education programs.
Promote national standards of practice through ongoing education and representation on interdisciplinary committees.
Maintain 15 hours of annual continuing education in diabetes, related topics, behavior change, and self-management education strategies.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with information-release requirements.
Follow network and departmental policies concerning employee, patient, and environmental safety and reporting.
Demonstrate the Network's Service Excellence Standards of Performance with internal and external customers.
Demonstrate performance improvement in clinical care and outcomes, customer and service improvement, operational systems and processes, and safety, as appropriate.
Use resources effectively and efficiently and demonstrate financial responsibility and accountability.
Comply with network and departmental attendance and dress-code policies.
Demonstrate competency in assessment, treatment range, growth and development knowledge, and age-appropriate communication.
Perform other related duties as assigned.