Health Technician (Dietetic)

Veterans Health Administration•Richmond, VA

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician (Dietetic) position is in Nutrition and Food Service at the Central Virginia Health Care System, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Richmond, Virginia. The role provides administrative and customer-service support for the hospital food service program, including processing patient meal orders, assisting with meal and nourishment delivery, and coordinating with dietitians and clinical staff. The position is not authorized for telework and is not virtual. The work schedule is 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with rotating weekends and holidays.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Meet the Individual Occupation Requirement through qualifying technician experience applying relevant knowledge, methods, and techniques, or a completed four-year bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.
For GS-05 qualification, meet one of the stated routes: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04; a qualifying four-year bachelor's degree with relevant study; or a qualifying combination of post-high-school education beyond the second year and specialized experience.
Specialized experience includes applying knowledge of quantity food-service operations, nutrition, food items, and appropriate quantities; serving clients, patients, or customers by assessing needs and providing information or assistance; and using computers, software, databases, and automated systems.
Submit transcripts if relying on education to meet qualification requirements.
Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment urinalysis.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one-year probationary period.
Perform duties involving walking, standing, bending, lifting and carrying light items, repetitive keyboard and mouse use, and potentially lifting or moving objects up to 20 pounds.
Work in a hospital environment with possible exposure to contagious diseases and observe safety precautions, including use of personal protective equipment when needed.

Responsibilities

Handle patient meal service orders and enter meal orders into the Dietetics Software system.
Provide professional and courteous customer service by telephone, email, and in person.
Collaborate with dietitians regarding food/drug interactions and notify clinical staff of potential meal-service or delivery issues.
Interpret and process diet orders.
Print, prepare, and review meal tickets.
Triage calls from inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and procedure areas concerning patient meal trays or nourishments.
Retrieve computerized information and printouts to assist with tray or nourishment assembly, including standing orders, nourishment labels, tabulated recipe lists, and other information needed for meal delivery.
Provide basic education and information on therapeutic diets.
Interpret diet activity and patient information to ensure meal trays comply with patient requests, preferences, and current therapeutic diet orders.
Communicate patient concerns to a registered dietitian or dietetic technician.
Verify physician orders for unusual diets, conflicting modifications, tube feeding orders, and nutritional supplements.
Use a computer to record, retrieve, and print recipes, menus, and inventory reports.
Perform other related duties as assigned.