Dietitian Senior - MGB CI

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

While this position supports an MGBCI cost center operationally, the Dietician functions within the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Nutrition Services Department professional governance structure, and all dieticians maintain reporting alignment through BWH Patient Care Services / Nutrition leadership. Responsible for nutritional assessments and implementing a plan of nutritional care for specialized oncology ambulatory populations, based on identification and assessment of a patient's nutritional needs, correlated with other health plans. Requires strong interpersonal and interviewing skills for competence in both clinical and managerial areas. Requires leadership in a variety of settings and formal and informal teaching to medical students, house staff, nurses, dietetic interns, and allied health personnel. Serves as a resource person in area of specialization for the hospital and community.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree Clinical Dietitian required
Senior Dietitian: Clinical Dietitian experience with multiple patient populations 3-5 years required
Good communication skills.
Ability to effectively evaluate and problem solve.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to guide, teach, and motivate all patient age populations.
Must possess high level of analytical abilities to determine medical, environmental, and psycho-social components which affect the nutritional status of individuals, families, or groups; must be able to make accurate nutritional assessments according to state-of-the-art research, and to develop and monitor appropriate care plans; work requires thorough working knowledge of food composition and food/nutrient and drug/nutrient interactions, and ability to discriminate new product claims and their safety and physiologic effect.
Must possess high level of interpersonal skills in order to provide effective nutrition counseling and education that facilitate behavior and attitude change in individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds, and to influence positive regard of ambulatory health care providers; must have the ability to communicate effectively in speech and writing.
Must possess the supervisory skills to direct, foster, evaluate, and utilize the strengths of dietetic interns toward greatest professional growth and optimum patient care.
Must possess sound decision-making, short and long-range planning skills, and creative brainstorming skills to contribute to the successful management of the unit.
Must be able to analyze and evaluate nutrition research and disseminate accurate information to professionals and lay population. Must be able to analyze and evaluate outcome data regarding benefits of medical nutrition therapy and/or patient/provider satisfaction.
Work requires flexibility and independent judgment in daily functioning within the multidisciplinary settings
Must possess ability and initiative in the entrepreneurial arena; to network with providers, and expand referrals
In-depth knowledge of metabolism and nutrition in relation to oncology and multiple treatment therapies (chemotherapy regimens, radiation treatments, etc)
Advanced knowledge of food chemistry and macro, micro-nutrient composition for successful alteration of diet in the oncology population.
Basic management and personnel skills for interaction with a diverse group of people in the work setting (including physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals, managers, and support personnel).
High level of interpersonal skills necessary to provide counseling to patients and their families on nutrition-related problems.
Leadership abilities to conduct programs within the hospital and with the community
Ability to work in a changing environment
Continued acquisition of knowledge to remain abreast of scientific advances in oncology and the ability to incorporate new knowledge into a nutritional care plan

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree Dietitian preferred
Dietitian: Clinical Dietitian experience with multiple patient populations 0-2 years preferred
Dietitian and Nutritionist [State License] preferred
Registered Dietitian [RD] preferred
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist [RDN] preferred

Responsibilities

Provides advanced clinical dietitian responsibilities which may include specialty or advanced patient population, participation in clinical care forums to serve as resource on nutrition related concerns, mentors new staff, and evaluation of new products
Assist leadership team in program planning and proposals to improve processes or improve efficiency; plans, conducts, supervises, and evaluates the education experiences of dietetic interns and students
Based on multiple criterion including assessment of nutritional needs, physician's orders, clinical data, interdisciplinary health care plans, and standards of quality nutritional care that appropriately meet age, psychosocial and physical needs of patients, the Dietitian develops and implements nutrition plan of care for patients
Documentation of all nutrition related information including assessment, nutrition therapy recommendations and care plan, follow up data and changes, diet consultation results, discharge planning, daily clinical activities, and other related orders and pertinent information
Counsel, educate, and develop resources and materials for the education of patients on families on prescribed therapeutic diets
Partner with food service staff to ensure meals, supplements, and nutrition support is provided; review patients' menu selections to monitor compliance with modified diets
Performs other duties as assigned
Complies with all policies and standards
Maintains excellent rapport and effective working relationships with patients and their families, physicians, nurses, managers, and administration.
Interviews ambulatory patients and families to assess and evaluate social, financial, environmental, and medical factors impacting nutrition status; reviews patient information obtained from medical records, and/or health care providers, to determine patient needs.
Counsels ambulatory individuals and groups in oncology with varied nutritional needs, taking into consideration diagnosis, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds. Uses behavioral and attitude change treatment modalities.
Develops nutrition care plans utilizing clinical, biochemical, socio-economic, and psychosocial factors.
Documents and communicates nutrition care plans through written and verbal systems (EMR, discussion at rounds or patient conferences). Documents in record based on established standards of practice.
Participates as a team member in conferences on behalf of patients with other health care professionals and communicates to patient care staff any nutritional problems which may affect a patient's response to overall medical care and treatment.
Interprets, evaluates, and utilizes pertinent current research related to nutritional care and presents such at team conferences and/or practitioner correspondence
Evaluates new enteral products and recommends products based upon their appropriateness and safety. This includes keeping up to date with the most current products available, assessing their nutritional composition and form, and preparing guidelines for their safe use and for cost control.
Collaborates with in-patient dietitians re: patient referrals; discharge and continuing care plans
Assists in the development of standards of practice within the Department of Nutrition.
Assists in monitoring selected clinical indicators and departmental audits.
Assesses, recommends and documents on enterally and parenterally fed patients.
Participates in selected quality improvement programs.
Participates in patient satisfaction surveys and problem solving with nutrition and customer service issues.
Serves as a nutrition consultant, resource, and lecturer for health care providers. students, and the general public.
Performs other duties as requested by management staff.
Participates in the development and implementation of programmatic planning of ambulatory oncology nutrition services for adult patients. Actively markets nutrition services and is a visible component of the health care team
Represents the Department of Nutrition on MGB Cancer Institute committees, as assigned
Participates in the development of policies and procedures related to nutrition care of ambulatory oncology patients and their families for JCT, Department of Health, research protocols, as well as for specific disease-based clinics.
Collects and reports productivity data related to patient volume and referral statistics and fiscal recovery and reports information to Director of Nutrition
Assesses nutritional composition and clinical efficacy of new products and supplements, alternative/complementary products or diets. Maintains current information on new products and provides meaningful interpretation to physicians, nurses and other health care providers.
Submits patient charge information in EPIC and reviews data entry report to ensure accuracy
Conducts marketing efforts to area institutions toward establishing new patients for nutrition consultation at the satellite. Develops and expands entrepreneurial proficiency in program patient volume and unit income growth. Works with Director of Nutrition and MGB Cancer Institute leadership to establish and manage volume/productivity targets.
Contributes to cost containment by careful use of supplies.
Participates in regular team meetings along with MGB Cancer Institute nutritionists to discuss patient and/or administrative issues, educational materials and to ensure standards of practice
Plans, conducts, supervises, and evaluates the educational experiences of Dietetic Interns for the MGB Cancer Institute ambulatory rotation
Conducts individual and group classes, both formal and informal, for students and professional personnel, both intra- and inter-departmentally.
Serves as a mentor to less experienced staff and fosters team work to promote cooperation and support for patient care activities.
Develops and presents group education classes to hospital staff, professional organizations, the community at large, media and/or contract institutions.
Publishes in peer-reviewed or lay publications.
Presents at professional conferences.
Develops and expands professional proficiency in oncology