Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Waco, TX

About The Position

Provides nutritional services for the facility’s in-center and home patients, as applicable, to maximize nutritional status and improve clinical outcomes. The Registered Dietitian is a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and supports the FMCNA Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI) activities. The role actively participates in process improvement to help patients achieve individualized goals established by their physician. The position assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease, provides patient-specific nutrition education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, calculates diet prescriptions, and helps develop and implement individualized plans of care. It monitors nutrition therapy and patient outcomes, identifies malnutrition risks, reviews nutrition-related laboratory results, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and providers on appropriate recommendations and treatment changes. The role also maintains accurate medical records, participates in quality and care-planning meetings, and maintains professional knowledge, registration, and continuing education. The work environment is characteristic of a healthcare facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels. The employee may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Day-to-day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as specified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Current state licensure, if applicable.
At least 1 year of professional work experience in clinical nutrition as a Registered Dietitian.
Demonstrated leadership competencies and skills, including teaching ability, strong organization, excellent communication, customer service, relationship development, results orientation, team building, and decision making.
Ability to perform responsibilities with minimum supervision.
Basic computer skills.

Nice To Haves

Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition is encouraged.
Previous renal experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease and provide education suited to their learning needs.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about nutritional status, adequacy measures and results, fluid status, and nutrition-related laboratory parameters.
Complete nutritional assessments and participate in interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments.
Participate in developing written, individualized comprehensive plans of care in accordance with applicable federal and state guidelines.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standards of practice.
Complete progress notes for chronic dialysis patients and maintain accurate medical record documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
Provide ongoing nutrition assessment and outcome-oriented counseling to help patients achieve and sustain effective nutritional status.
Identify patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition and work with the interdisciplinary team to identify interventions, resources, or solutions.
Review each patient’s albumin level and body weight at least monthly and implement the plan of care with patient, family, or caregiver involvement.
Monitor adherence and response to nutrition therapy, adjust therapy as needed, document barriers to achieving goals, and address those barriers through the plan of care.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on mineral metabolism, renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation status, and sodium and volume control.
Adhere to FMCNA algorithms and medical record policies.
Report nutrition QAI results and participate in the interdisciplinary QAI program.
Coordinate with team members to provide Pre-ESRD education as appropriate.
Work with the Case Manager when appropriate to coordinate patient education plans and identify candidates for physician referral for nutritional supplements under disease management agreements.
Review nutrition-related laboratory results, counsel patients or caregivers, formulate appropriate actions, recommend treatment changes, and communicate with physicians, facility staff, and other providers of patient care as appropriate.
Participate in staff meetings, quality improvement meetings, care plan meetings, and other applicable meetings.
Consult with the FMS Corporate Dietitian regarding nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve knowledge and skills for competent and innovative practice.
Maintain dietetic registration and continuing education hours as specified by the American Dietetic Association and applicable state licensure regulations.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure work areas are safe and clean.
Perform other nutrition management and related duties as assigned.