Diet Aide

St. Charles Health System • Madras, OR

6d • $22 - $28

About The Position

The Diet Aide is the first point of contact between patients and the Food Services Department and serves as a customer service champion. The role answers room-service calls from patients and staff, enters patient food orders into a point-of-sale ordering system, and reviews dietary restrictions to help ensure orders meet patient requirements. When a requested item conflicts with a restriction, the Diet Aide recommends alternatives or asks the patient’s assigned nurse to review and approve the request. The position does not directly supervise other caregivers.

The Food Services Department provides high-volume food and beverage services, including patient room service, a café, deli, and catering. The Diet Aide maintains knowledge of therapeutic diets and menu items, coordinates food choices with nursing staff, and prepares special diet needs such as tube feeding when directed. The role also handles and stores food according to HACCP guidelines, maintains clean work areas in accordance with organizational and Oregon food-sanitation standards, and may assist with patient food delivery or other food-services duties during busy periods.

The position supports the organization’s vision, mission, and values, contributes to continuous improvement, helps maintain a safe environment, and conducts work professionally, confidentially, and ethically. It delivers timely, efficient, accurate customer service and patient care. This is a relief, variable-shift, non-exempt role. The posted pay range is $21.53–$27.56, with a 15% relief differential and additional differentials listed for swing, night, and weekend shifts.

Requirements

• Current county food handler’s card.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with a diverse population and professionally represent St. Charles Health System.
• Ability to multitask and work independently.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail and a high level of customer service.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, and ability to track financial costing.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Understanding of gavage feeding and special diets in a therapeutic environment.
• Ability to wear the personal protective equipment required to perform the job safely.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or GED.
• ServSafe Manager Certification.
• At least one year of hospital or nursing-home experience with diet experience.

Responsibilities

• Answer incoming calls from patient rooms and staff and take food orders.
• Enter patient meal orders accurately and efficiently into the point-of-sale system.
• Review dietary restrictions when taking orders and recommend alternatives when requested items do not comply.
• Request review and approval from the assigned nurse when a patient request conflicts with dietary restrictions.
• Maintain knowledge of therapeutic diets and menu items, researching restrictions and coordinating food choices with nursing staff.
• Prepare special diet needs, including tube feeding, when directed, and enter appropriate charges for tube feeding.
• Store and handle food according to Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) guidelines.
• Maintain clean work areas in compliance with St. Charles Health System and Oregon Food Sanitation standards.
• Support other food-services areas as directed, including delivering food to patients during high-volume periods.
• Support the organization’s vision, mission, values, and continuous-improvement principles.
• Help provide and maintain a safe environment for caregivers, patients, and guests.
• Follow applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; act ethically, protect confidentiality, report known or suspected violations, and cooperate with organizational investigations.
• Deliver timely, efficient, accurate customer service and patient care.
• Perform other duties of similar complexity as required or assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: No Education Listed