PATIENT HOST/HOSTESS

Independence Health System•Greensburg, PA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Host/Hostess is responsible for front- and back-of-house meal service, including menu selection, meal ticket processing, ADTs, and tray delivery and collection. The role uses excellent customer service skills and serves as a direct line of communication to nursing staff and family members. The position supports patient satisfaction and safe, accurate meal service by following diet orders, fluid restrictions, patient preferences, and infection-control practices. It also performs meal-service and kitchen support tasks, responds to service requests, and refers patients who may need further nutrition intervention to a dietitian.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or higher education.
One to two years of experience in customer service, food service, retail, nutrition, or hospitality.
Strong leadership ability, organizational skills, independent and critical-thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Act 34 Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check through the Pennsylvania State Police system.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a healthcare setting.
ServSafe Food Safety Certification.

Responsibilities

Introduce patients to the menu process via the menu platform and obtain selections electronically using spoken-menu guidelines.
Navigate patient profiles and follow diet orders, fluid restrictions, and patient preferences; involve family members and nursing staff when appropriate.
Call patients in isolation rooms when able and follow applicable infection-control guidelines.
Deliver and collect meal trays, assist with tray setup as appropriate, deliver tube feedings to units, and order and deliver floor stock to patient units.
Support patient satisfaction initiatives and provide excellent customer service when entering nursing units and patient rooms.
Answer phones, handle requests and issues, and notify a supervisor when needed.
Process meal tickets, print tally reports for meal service, print tube-feeding labels, and print and enter paper menus for behavioral health as needed.
Complete department spreadsheet statistics and use downtime procedures during emergencies.
Stock kitchen-area supplies as assigned.
Use universal precautions during menu selection and tray service; use two patient identifiers when entering a room.
Check and handle expiration dates of tube feedings and pantry items, and complete assigned daily cleaning tasks.
Communicate directly with nursing-unit staff, handle service recovery promptly, and involve a supervisor as needed.
Receive and distribute messages in a timely manner.
Identify and refer patients needing further nutrition intervention to the dietitian.
Perform other duties as assigned.