Nutrition Service Specialist Full Time (Rotating Hours 6:15am-2:45pm, 6:30am-3:00pm, 7:00am-3:30pm, Rotating Weekends & Holidays)

Hendricks Regional Health•Danville, IN

12d

About The Position

Supports the departmental mission of providing pleasant mealtime experiences to patients by providing physician-ordered nutritional services. The role supports patients’ individual food preferences and ensures prompt, accurate handling of nutritionally balanced menus. Depending on assigned duties, the specialist may take meal orders, help patients use the meal-ordering system, coordinate and check tray assembly, prepare and deliver food, and maintain food-service areas and supplies. The role also supports communication among patients, nursing units, Dietitians, and Food Service staff.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Demonstrated computer literacy with software used in the position.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to communicate effectively and concisely with patients, visitors, nursing staff, Dietitians, and Food Service staff.
Ability to follow established procedures, scripts, recipes, plating guides, food-safety practices, and safety measures.
Ability to use sound judgment when caring for sick or handicapped patients, considering age and diagnosis.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Obtain meal orders from patients and visitors by telephone, enter orders into the menu-processing system, process reports and updates, and verify that orders meet diet parameters.
Process diet requisitions and document required information accurately and consistently; maintain accurate electronic records and review computer-transmitted diet information.
Coordinate Call Center processes with Production and Tray Line staff, mediate patient meal-service concerns, and communicate with other departments.
Act as a liaison among the Nutrition and Dietetics Department, patients, and nursing units; report concerns to Dietitians and communicate Dietitian consults through Vocera.
Write menus for Meals on Wheels clients and keep the related diet list and worksheet up to date.
Serve meals professionally and efficiently; explain the meal-ordering system to patients and assist patients or family members with orders when needed.
Assess whether patients can use the meal-ordering system and contact appropriate staff when they cannot participate.
Order pantry supplies for nursing units, record calorie counts, and communicate with Dietitians.
Alert nursing staff when patients need help eating or feeding and remind diabetic patients to turn on their call light when their tray arrives.
Coordinate patient-tray assembly, verify meals against written tickets, check food quality, reject unacceptable items, request replacements, and ensure timely delivery of food carts to nursing units.
Replenish tray-line supplies, follow HACCP and local food-handling requirements, and maintain the integrity of stored food items.
Direct staff to reproduce food items when needed to support patient satisfaction.
Operate cooking equipment safely; portion, plate, and garnish food according to recipes, serving sizes, and plating guides.
Handle and store food to maintain sanitation, nutritional quality, and freshness.
Prepare tube feedings according to physician orders and place them on patient carts for delivery.
Initiate tray assembly by placing condiments, silverware, tray covers, napkins, and cold food according to tray tickets; check food acceptability and consult the Expeditor about questionable items.
Load trays onto meal-delivery carts and deliver carts or requested items to nursing units according to procedure and policy.
Retrieve and clean soiled meal carts; clean dishes, dish machines, and dish rooms; wash pots and pans using the three-stage washing technique.
Prepare between-meal nourishment and deliver it to nursing units.
Anticipate patient and team-member needs, take ownership of problems, support quality assurance, advocate for patients and customers, and perform other duties as requested.