Dietary Aide

Tufts Medicine•Boston, MA

8d•$17 - $19

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Dietary Aide works in locations where food is prepared, including retail, patient, and catering operations. The role supports food services through menu selection, food preparation and delivery, kitchen cleanliness, sanitation, and related activities. It prepares and serves meals for general or special diets and helps ensure patients receive meals and nourishment appropriate to their current diet orders. The position is an entry-level support role involving routine work, typically performed under supervision.

Requirements

Food service experience.
Ability to read, write, and understand written instructions.
Interpersonal skills to interact with patients, the patient care team, and employees.
Familiarity with therapeutic diets.
Knowledge of sterile food-handling techniques.
Ability to operate simple mechanical devices such as a coffee urn, dish machine, slicer, or trash compactor.
Ability to use a knife for slicing, cutting, and dicing.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of hospital food-services experience.

Responsibilities

Maintain and communicate accurate, updated diet-order information in the system so patients receive meals, nourishments, and commercial enteral products in accordance with current orders.
Ask patients about food preferences, intolerances, likes, and dislikes; alert the Clinical Dietitian to actual or potential nutritional problems.
Assist patients with menu selection and write or correct regular and assigned modified diets, maintaining tray accuracy and appropriateness.
Deliver trays to patients and collect trays after meals.
Follow patient-unit precautions, use PPE appropriately, and perform hand hygiene according to standards.
Stock nursing-unit pantries with nourishments and dietary supplies using a first-in, first-out system.
Assemble patient trays accurately and prepare menu items, including salads, sandwiches, desserts, and special items.
Use kitchen utensils to weigh, measure, mix, wash, peel, cut, grind, stir, strain, season, and knead food for cooking, serving, and storage.
Assist with hot and cold food preparation and store food appropriately using knowledge of temperature requirements and spoilage.
Maintain sanitation and temperature logs according to regulatory requirements.
Set up, stock, serve, and deliver food from counters, steam tables, and work stations.
Clean and sanitize dishware, equipment, work stations, pots, utensils, floors, walls, and dish machines; process trays and utensils and reassemble the tray line.
Remove trash from assigned work areas or the kitchen, return empty bottles and cans to recycling, and move crushed cardboard to designated areas.
Maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues and contribute to team goals and a positive work environment.
May prepare special nutritional products such as infant formulas, modular tube feedings, or powdered nutritionals for high-risk adult patients.
May operate a cash register or equivalent, receive payments, make change, and issue receipts or tickets.