Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Beaumont, TX

About The Position

Provides nutritional services to the facility’s in-center and home patients, as applicable, to maximize nutritional status and improve clinical outcomes. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and supports the Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI) activities, and process improvement efforts that help patients achieve individualized goals established by their physicians. The Dietitian assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease, provides individualized nutrition education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, and participates in comprehensive assessments and care planning. The role monitors nutritional status and related lab results, recommends and adjusts nutrition therapy, documents care, and collaborates with patients, caregivers, physicians, facility staff, and interdisciplinary team members. The Dietitian also participates in quality improvement and staff meetings, maintains professional knowledge and credentials, and helps ensure work areas are safe and clean. The work environment is characteristic of a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise. The role may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Day-to-day work includes desk and computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. No supervision is provided.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as specified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Current state licensure, if applicable.
At least 1 year of professional work experience in clinical nutrition as a Registered Dietitian.
Demonstrated leadership competencies and skills, including ability to teach, strong organizational skills, excellent communication, customer service, relationship development, results orientation, team building, and decision making.
Ability to perform responsibilities with minimum supervision.
Basic computer skills.

Nice To Haves

Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition certification is encouraged.
Previous renal experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease and provide education suited to their learning needs.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about nutritional status, adequacy measures and results, fluid status, and nutrition-related laboratory parameters.
Complete nutritional assessments and participate in interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop written, individualized plans of care in accordance with applicable federal and state guidelines.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standards of practice.
Complete progress notes for chronic dialysis patients and maintain accurate medical-record documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
Provide ongoing nutrition assessment and outcome-oriented counseling to support effective nutritional status.
Identify patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and collaborate with the team on appropriate interventions and resources.
Review each patient’s albumin level and body weight at least monthly.
Implement care plans with patient, family, or caregiver involvement; monitor adherence and response to nutrition therapy; adjust therapy as needed; and document barriers to achieving goals and related interventions.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate with the team on mineral metabolism and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation status, and sodium and volume control.
Follow FMCNA algorithms and medical-record policies.
Report nutrition QAI results and participate in the interdisciplinary QAI program.
Coordinate with team members to provide Pre-ESRD education when appropriate.
Work with the Case Manager on patient education plans and identify candidates for physician referral for nutritional supplements, as appropriate under disease management agreements.
Review nutrition-related laboratory results, counsel patients or caregivers, determine appropriate actions, recommend treatment changes, and communicate results and recommendations to physicians, facility staff, and other providers of patient care as appropriate.
Participate in staff meetings, care plan meetings, and other applicable meetings.
Consult with the FMS Corporate Dietitian about nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills, dietetic registration, and continuing education as required by the American Dietetic Association and applicable state licensure regulations.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to help ensure work areas are safe and clean.
Perform other assigned nutrition management and related duties.