Diet Technician (0.6 FTE) - Food Services

Hennepin Healthcare•Minneapolis, MN

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Diet Technician supports the nutritional wellbeing of patients receiving food through the Food and Nutrition Services Department and may coordinate daily tray line operations. The position monitors patient diet orders and related admission, discharge, and transfer information using the electronic medical record and diet office software. It may involve nutrition screening, identifying nutritional risk and notifying the dietitian, calorie count calculations, menu corrections for special diets, tray accuracy checks, enteral formula preparation and delivery, nutrition education, and patient visits for menu selection and satisfaction surveys. The role also supports call center operations, food handling and presentation, tray quality testing, and communication with nursing units and food service areas. The position is 0.6 FTE (48 hours per pay period), with Monday–Friday workdays and every other weekend, on day/evening shifts of eight hours, and is in person.

Requirements

Be a student in a current dietetic program, or have an approved equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Completed dietetic/nutrition program.
Over three months to one year of experience in hospital food service.

Responsibilities

Monitor and maintain patient orders, admissions, discharges, and transfers using the electronic medical record and diet office software.
May complete nutrition screenings, determine patients’ nutritional risk and needs based on age group, plan care based on identified needs, and notify the dietitian when patients at risk require attention.
May calculate calorie counts and communicate results as appropriate.
Correct menus based on special diet needs.
Direct tray service and check each tray for accuracy and adherence to diet orders.
May prepare and deliver enteral formulas as appropriate.
Answer call center phone calls and solve problems.
May provide nutrition education and document it in the electronic medical record; demonstrate knowledge of age-appropriate services, treatments, or therapies.
Determine whether products are standard or substandard.
Ensure proper food handling and presentation.
Visit patients of all ages daily in assigned areas for menu selection and patient satisfaction surveys.
Enter accurate diet orders and patient admissions, discharges, and transfers into the diet office software system; communicate changes to the tray serving area and use a computer terminal to communicate with nursing units.
Conduct test trays to assess the quality and accuracy of trays served to patients.
Prepare menus for the serving area in accordance with current diet orders.
Attend required safety training and describe responsibilities related to general, department/service, and job-specific safety hazards.
Follow the Hospital Exposure Control Plans for blood-borne and airborne pathogens.
Treat patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees with respect and dignity, maintaining a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
Promote effective working relationships and collaborate as part of department and unit teams to help meet goals and objectives.