Patient Dining Assistant

DCH Health Care Authority•Tuscaloosa, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Dining Assistant (PDA) provides direct, one-on-one meal service to hospital patients and serves as a liaison among patients, Nutritional Services, nursing, and other departments. The role includes explaining the My Dining meal-ordering system, collecting and confirming diet-specific meal choices, entering orders into an iPad, and preparing meal tickets for the tray line. The PDA follows physician-prescribed diets, uses two patient identifiers, and digitally scans tray tickets before meals are served. At scheduled times, the PDA builds, delivers, scans, and removes patient trays and delivers between-meal nourishment as needed. The position also involves addressing patient concerns, conducting meal-round surveys, maintaining nursing-unit floor stock, and helping with kitchen tasks. The PDA is expected to provide professional, timely service, work independently with minimal supervision, and contribute to patient satisfaction, safety, and uninterrupted Nutritional Services. The role requires onsite physical presence and may involve variable shifts.

Requirements

Must be able to read and write legibly, speak and comprehend English, and follow written and oral instructions.
Must communicate positively and interact one-on-one with patients, patients’ families, doctors, nursing staff, and other hospital staff.
Strong customer-relations, communication, prioritization, time-management, and multitasking skills.
Must be able to use iPads, computers, and cell-like phones.
Must complete the ServSafe class within six months after hire and score at least 75% on the written test.
Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Must have normal or corrected hearing and vision within normal range.
Must be able to count carbohydrates, calories, fluids, intake and output, galley sheets, and other patient needs.
Must demonstrate attention to detail, cooperation, a pleasant and even-tempered manner, integrity, honesty, and accountability.
Physical presence onsite is essential.
Medium work: exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 30 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
Physical demands include continuous walking and prolonged standing; bending, twisting, reaching, kneeling, crouching, stooping, crawling, pushing, lifting, grasping, holding, and repetitive hand motions; handling utensils and other tools; and having hands in water, sanitizers, or cleaning solutions.
Must be able to carry an iPad on a shoulder or in hand and handle equipment, phones, and computers.

Nice To Haves

High school graduate or equivalent preferred.
Knowledge and experience working with iPads and PCs is strongly recommended.

Responsibilities

Distribute menus and explain the My Dining meal-ordering system to patients, guests, visitors, and family members.
Verbally collect diet-specific food choices from patients or caregivers, confirm choices by reading them back, and enter confirmed orders into the iPad.
Accurately process meal requests and follow physician-prescribed diets and applicable diet restrictions.
Print meal tickets, organize them, and place them on the patient tray line.
Build, deliver, scan, and remove patient trays at posted times and within established time constraints.
Use two patient identifiers to positively identify patients and digitally scan each tray ticket before serving a meal.
Take ownership of patient concerns, make independent decisions within the scope of care, and follow up to achieve a positive resolution.
Serve patients and guests professionally, efficiently, and in a timely manner.
Inventory, record, check expiration dates, and replenish nursing-unit floor stock to established par levels as needed.
Use Meditech and review the status board for updates about patient needs and limitations.
Carry and use the issued Ascom phone, iPad, and scanner while on duty.
Deliver between-meal nourishment directly to patients when needed.
Perform My Dining quality assurance tasks, including active patient meal-round surveys, to support patient satisfaction goals.
Anticipate patient and team-member needs and proactively address concerns across nursing units and meals.
Assist with kitchen duties as needed, including drying trays, bagging silverware, cleaning carts, and emptying retrieval carts.
Work variable shifts as needed to support patients and Nutritional Services.
Maintain performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards; comply with the Employee Handbook, DCH Behavioral Standards, and DCH Health System policies and procedures.
Perform essential duties in a manner that supports safety, identify unsafe practices, and take appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards.
Use electronic mail, time-and-attendance software, learning-management software, and the intranet.
Perform other duties as assigned to ensure uninterrupted services.