Diet Aide

St. Charles Health System • Madras, OR

5d

About The Position

The Diet Aide is the patient’s first point of contact with the food service department and serves as a customer service champion. The role answers incoming room-service calls from patients and staff, enters patient food orders into a point-of-sale system, and reviews dietary restrictions to ensure orders meet requirements. The Diet Aide maintains knowledge of therapeutic diets and menu items, coordinates with nursing staff when needed, and may prepare special diet items such as tube feeding when directed. This position does not directly supervise other caregivers.

The Food Services Department provides patient room service, café, deli, and catering services. The Diet Aide follows food handling and sanitation requirements, maintains clean work areas, and may support other food-service areas, including delivering food to patients during high-volume periods. The role is relief with variable shifts and may include weekends and holidays. The schedule is listed as zero weekly hours.

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.
• Understanding of gavage feeding and special diets in a therapeutic environment.
• Ability to wear appropriate 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 phone lines from patient rooms and staff to take food orders.
• Enter patient meal orders accurately and efficiently into the point-of-sale ordering system.
• Review patient dietary restrictions when taking orders and recommend alternate menu items when requested selections do not comply.
• Request review and approval from the patient’s assigned nurse when a request conflicts with dietary restrictions.
• Maintain knowledge of therapeutic diets and menu items, research dietary restrictions, and coordinate food choices with nursing staff.
• Prepare special diet needs, such as tube feeding, when directed, and enter applicable charges.
• 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-service areas as directed, including delivering food to patients as needed during high-volume periods.
• Support organizational vision, mission, values, and continuous-improvement principles.
• Help maintain a safe environment for caregivers, patients, and guests.
• Conduct work professionally and confidentially, comply with applicable laws and policies, and report known or suspected violations.
• Provide timely, efficient, accurate customer service and patient care.
• Perform additional duties of similar complexity as required or assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed