Patient Dining Assistant (Part-Time)

DCH Health System•Tuscaloosa, AL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Dining Assistant (PDA) is responsible for passing out menus, instructing patients on the My Dining meal ordering system, and verbally taking food choices for each meal. This role requires accurately processing and meticulously following physician-prescribed diets, reaffirming food requests with patients, and entering choices into an iPad. The PDA will print meal tickets, organize them for the tray line, and at posted times, build, deliver, scan, and remove patient trays. This position acts as a patient advocate, taking ownership of concerns, making independent decisions within the scope of care, and ensuring a positive resolution. To comply with TJC standards, the PDA uses two patient identifiers and scans each tray ticket before serving. This role serves as a liaison between the patient, Nutritional Services, nursing, and other departments, fostering a positive service culture. It requires independent thinking, multi-tasking, prioritization, stringent time management, and communication skills. The PDA must be self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision, directly impacting patient satisfaction scores.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent preferred.
Must be able to read and write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
Must be able to follow written and oral instructions.
Must have positive, verbal communication and one-on-one interaction skills with patients, patient’s families, doctors, nursing, and other hospital staff.
Knowledge and experience working with iPads and PCs is strongly recommended.
Working with iPads and computers and using cell-like phones are required.
Strong customer relations, communication, prioritization, time management, and multi-task skills.
Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
Physical presence onsite is essential.
Ability to count carbs, calories, fluids, I/O, galley sheets, etc.; and other patient needs.
Attention to Detail for all patient requests, needs, and issues.
Cooperation and being pleasant and even-tempered with patients, family members, doctors, and co-workers.
Integrity. Being honest and accountable for your actions.

Nice To Haves

Must complete the ServSafe class within six months after hire and score a minimum of 75% on the written test.

Responsibilities

Pass out menus and instruct patients on the My Dining meal ordering system.
Verbally take patient, guest, and/or family members' diet-specific food choices for each meal.
Accurately process and follow all physician-prescribed diets.
Reaffirm all patient food requests by reading back food choices to the patient.
Enter all food choices into the PDA’s iPad.
Print off all meal tickets, organize, and place them on the patient tray line.
Build, deliver, scan, and remove patient trays at posted times.
Process and follow all diet requests while serving each patient/guest in a timely, professional, and efficient manner.
Act as a patient advocate, taking ownership of patient concerns, making independent decisions within scope of care, and following up each concern to a positive resolution.
Use two patient identifiers to positively identify each patient and digitally scan each tray ticket before a meal is served.
Act as a liaison between the patient, Nutritional Services, nursing, and any other department involved, creating a positive service culture.
Anticipate guest/team member needs and be proactive to concerns.
Work in the kitchen to dry trays, bag silverware, clean carts, and empty retrieval carts daily as needed.
Maintain performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards.
Perform compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards, including creating positive relationships.
Use electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, and intranet.
Adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
Perform all other duties as assigned regardless of assigned position for that day to ensure uninterrupted services.
Deliver between meal nourishments (when needed) directly to each guest.
Responsible for Quality Assurance control points for the My Dining system ensuring all actions reflect the goal of achieving a “5” on patient satisfaction goals including active P.I. meal round surveys.
Inventories, records, checks for out-of-date items, and replaces floor stock at established par levels on their designated nursing unit as needed.