Diabetes Educator I, II or III, Ambulatory

Sutter Health•Elk Grove, CA

About The Position

Provides diabetes self-management education and training (DSMT) and/or medical nutrition therapy (MNT) to individuals, family members, and groups. Manages care for a distinct patient population by assessing educational needs, nutritional guidelines, lifestyle intervention goals, and counseling needs. Coordinates with physicians, pharmacists, case managers, social workers, and other healthcare providers to develop individualized protocols involving medication, therapy, nutrition, and devices. Supports patients in adopting techniques and behavior modifications to control disease, avoid complications, and improve quality of life. The role may be hired at Diabetes Educator I, II, or III level. The position works autonomously with a regular patient panel and is responsible for ongoing care between provider visits, often within a diabetes or endocrinology clinic. Treatment decisions are made within the educator’s scope of practice, with medication-adjustment recommendations made to physicians or advanced practice clinicians. Level-specific requirements vary: Level I requires a bachelor’s degree and registered dietitian credential; Level II also requires CDCES certification and two years of recent relevant experience; Level III requires CDCES certification, at least one additional listed specialty certification, and five years of recent relevant experience. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position on the day shift, scheduled 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Weekend work is not required. Employees may handle hazardous drugs in the course of their work, in accordance with applicable NIOSH and USP 800 guidelines.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, or a related field.
Registered Dietitian (RD) credential; credentialing must be completed within 45 days of hire and before billing.
Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification; for Level II, BLS is not required for fully remote incumbents.
Level II: CDCES certification and two years of recent relevant experience. For employees hired before 05/03/2024, CDCES may be completed within two years.
Level III: CDCES/CDE certification, five years of recent relevant experience, and at least one additional listed certification or qualification: a Board Certified Specialist credential in a listed nutrition specialty, another eating disorder certification, or certified pump trainer status on two or more devices.
Level I: Gather the required hours to become eligible for and sit for the CDCES exam within two years of hire.
Knowledge of diabetes monitoring and management equipment, including blood glucose monitors, insulin injection devices, and associated software.
Knowledge of adult learning theory and ability to provide individual and group education.
Strong communication, group facilitation, collaboration, time management, organization, and attention-to-detail skills.
Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and EPIC for electronic medical records.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage interruptions and multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work within defined policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate technical or sensitive information professionally to patients, families, providers, and staff.
Ability to make independent judgments and treatment decisions within scope of practice.
Level I: Motivational Interviewing and basic behavioral counseling skills; routine nutritional therapy capability; basic understanding of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, and medical terminology.
Level III: Critical-thinking skills to resolve problems in situations without standard procedures or in atypical scenarios.

Responsibilities

Provide diabetes self-management education and training and/or medical nutrition therapy to individuals, family members, and groups.
Assess patient educational needs, nutritional guidelines, lifestyle intervention goals, and counseling needs.
Manage ongoing care for a distinct patient population and maintain a regular patient panel.
Coordinate patient care with physicians, pharmacists, case managers, social workers, and other healthcare providers.
Develop individualized care protocols involving medication, therapy, nutrition, and devices.
Support patients in controlling diabetes, avoiding potential complications, and improving quality of life through education and behavior modification.
Collaborate with providers and extend care beyond provider visits, including follow-up between visits.
Make treatment decisions within scope of practice and recommend medication adjustments to physicians or advanced practice clinicians.
Enter and update electronic medical records.