Dietitian (Clinical) - Home Based Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Orangeburg, SC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Columbia VA Healthcare System is hiring a Dietitian in the Clinical Section of Nutrition & Food Services to work with Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). The employee serves as a medical nutrition expert, applies evidence-based guidelines to complex patients, and coordinates care with providers, Veterans, caregivers, and community resources. The role provides nutrition care in Veterans’ homes in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and portions of the Sumter, South Carolina HBPC catchment areas.

The Dietitian conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), including nutrition-focused physical examinations, to establish diagnoses and determine malnutrition risk or degree. The employee develops, implements, evaluates, and modifies Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), calculates nutrient requirements and diet restrictions, and documents care in the medical record using the ADIME format. The role identifies nutrition-support needs, recommends appropriate support, communicates with the healthcare team, participates in interdisciplinary meetings, and provides tailored nutrition education and counseling. The employee also uses virtual care technology, maintains productivity and accurate records, supports safe and quality care, leads implementation of initiatives, evaluates data and initiates corrective actions, and complies with accrediting requirements.

The position is full performance level GS-11, with selection possible at GS-07 through GS-11. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available on an ad-hoc basis; this is not a virtual position. HBPC Dietitians must have a current, valid, unrestricted driver’s license to operate a government-owned vehicle. Other related duties appropriate to the grade and assignment may be assigned.

Requirements

• Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration; limited GS-07/GS-09 temporary appointment exceptions apply for otherwise qualified non-credentialed dietitians who meet the specified education and supervised-practice requirements.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Current, valid, unrestricted driver’s license to operate a government-owned vehicle for HBPC duties.
• GS-09: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-07, or a master’s degree in dietetics or a closely related field; must demonstrate knowledge of accrediting and regulatory requirements, virtual nutrition-care technology, NCP-based patient care, evidence-based practice, patient-centered goal setting, performance-improvement data collection, and stakeholder collaboration.
• GS-11: At least one year of experience as an RD/RDN equivalent to GS-09; must demonstrate skill in NCP-based care, interpreting research and applying evidence-based practices, developing patient-centered goals, analyzing performance-improvement data, collaborating with stakeholders, and complying with accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities.
• GS-07: No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements.
• For the non-credentialed GS-07/GS-09 exception: a bachelor’s or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent, and completion of an ACEND-accredited experiential or supervised practice program with a verification statement establishing eligibility to take the CDR registration exam.
• Foreign education used to qualify must meet applicable evaluation requirements; foreign degrees must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript as specified.
• Subject to background and security investigation and required onboarding and identification verification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Selected employees must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Applicants must complete the application requirements in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the VA Qualification Standard’s Grandfathering Provision may qualify under that provision.
• Prior work experience or military service may be considered for annual leave accrual credit, subject to request and approval before appointment; credit is not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process, including nutrition-focused physical examinations, to establish diagnoses and assess malnutrition risk or degree.
• Develop and implement Medical Nutrition Therapy; evaluate and monitor its effectiveness and outcomes, and modify plans as needed.
• Calculate nutrient requirements and diet restrictions, including food and drug interactions, and tailor diet prescriptions to individual patients.
• Document Medical Nutrition Therapy in medical records using the ADIME format and maintain accurate, independent records of clinical activities and patient encounters.
• Identify patients needing nutritional support, recommend an appropriate mode of support, and communicate with the healthcare team.
• Participate in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Assess educational needs and provide tailored nutrition education and counseling to individuals and groups.
• Use virtual care technology to improve access to care.
• Maintain productivity standards and complete patient encounters using approved systems.
• Support continuous improvement of safe, quality Veteran care.
• Lead activities to implement new initiatives; use data to develop and evaluate measures and initiate corrective actions.
• Comply with The Joint Commission and other accrediting agency requirements and standards.
• Coordinate care with providers, Veterans, caregivers, and community resources.
• Provide nutrition care in Veterans’ homes in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and portions of the Sumter, South Carolina HBPC catchment areas.
• Perform other related duties appropriate to the grade and assignment, as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to position and eligibility.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit for qualifying prior federal work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level