Patient Dining Assistant

DCH Health System•Tuscaloosa, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Dining Assistant (PDA) is responsible for managing the My Dining meal ordering system, including passing out menus, instructing patients on the system, and verbally taking food choices. This role requires accurately processing and meticulously following physician-prescribed diets, reaffirming food requests with patients, and entering choices into an iPad. The PDA prints meal tickets, organizes them for the tray line, and is responsible for building, delivering, scanning, and removing patient trays at posted times. This position acts as a patient advocate, addressing concerns and ensuring timely, professional, and efficient service. The PDA uses two patient identifiers to confirm patient identity and scans tray tickets before serving meals, acting as a liaison between patients, Nutritional Services, nursing, and other departments to foster a positive service culture. This role demands independent thinking, multi-tasking, prioritization, stringent time management, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Direct patient service is a primary focus, significantly impacting patient satisfaction scores.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent preferred.
Must be able to read and write legibly, speak, and comprehend English and be able to follow written and oral instructions.
Absolutely crucial to be able to have positive, verbal communication and one-on-one interaction, with different levels of patients, patient’s families, doctor’s, nursing, and other staff within the hospital setting.
Knowledge and experience working with IPads and P.C.’s is strongly recommended.
Working with IPads and computers and using cell-like phones are required.
This position will require strong customer relations, communication, prioritization, time management and multi-task skills.
Will be required to complete the ServSafe class within six months after hire and score a minimum of 75% on the written test.
Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
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
Finger/hand dexterity to be able to handle equipment, cell phone; computers
Hearing and seeing
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

Knowledge and experience working with IPads and P.C.’s is strongly recommended.

Responsibilities

Being receptive to and positively accepting working variable shifts where needed to adequately care for patients and all other areas of nutritional services.
Consistently serving each guest in a professional and efficient manner.
Instructing each guest, visitor, and family member on the My Dining meal system.
Delivering and picking up finished patient trays in a timely manner according to established time constraints.
Inventories, records, checks for out-of-date items, and replaces floor stock at established par levels on their designated nursing unit as needed.
Has knowledge of My Dining processes and all diet restrictions utilized by the patient, family member, or friend.
Have an issued Ascom phone, IPad, and scanner, with them while on duty.
Uses Meditech and views their status board often for updates regarding patient needs and limitations.
Delivers between meal nourishments (when needed) directly to each guest.
Responsible for Quality Assurance control points for the My Dining system ensuring all actions reflects goal of achieving a “5” on patient satisfaction goals including active P.I. meal round surveys.
Must participate as a team member by anticipating guest/team member needs and being proactive to the concern, i.e. – Every patient; on every floor/nursing unit; for all meals.
Working in the kitchen to dry trays, bag silverware, clean carts, empty retrieval carts, etc., daily as needed.
Demonstrates computer literacy to use an IPad computer and its software and Ascom phones.
Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
All other duties as assigned regardless of assigned position for that day to ensure uninterrupted services.
Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
All other duties as assigned.