Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Laredo, TX

26d

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. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI) activities. Participates in process improvement activities intended to help patients achieve individualized goals established by their physicians. The Registered Dietitian assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease, provides individualized education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, calculates diet prescriptions, and contributes to comprehensive plans of care. The role monitors nutritional status and therapy outcomes, identifies patients at risk of malnutrition, reviews nutrition-related laboratory results, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and physicians on appropriate interventions and treatment recommendations. The position also maintains accurate medical records, participates in quality and care-plan meetings, and keeps professional knowledge and credentials current. The work environment is characteristic of a healthcare facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels. The role may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Daily work includes desk and personal computer tasks 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. No supervisory responsibilities are listed.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as defined by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Current state licensure, if applicable.
At least one year of professional work experience in clinical nutrition as a Registered Dietitian.
Demonstrated ability to teach, with strong organizational, communication, customer-service, relationship-development, results-orientation, team-building, and decision-making skills.
Ability to perform responsibilities with minimal supervision.
Basic computer skills.
Maintain dietetic registration and continuing education hours as specified by the American Dietetic Association and applicable state licensure regulations.

Nice To Haves

Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition certification is encouraged.
Previous renal experience is 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 standard practice.
Complete progress notes for chronic dialysis patients and maintain complete, accurate medical records 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 malnourished patients and patients at risk for malnutrition and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on interventions, resources, and 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 implement care-plan responses to those barriers.
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 and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation status, and sodium/volume control.
Follow FMCNA algorithms and medical record policies.
Report nutrition QAI results and participate in the interdisciplinary QAI program.
Coordinate with team members in providing Pre-ESRD education as appropriate.
When appropriate, work with the Case Manager 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, and recommend treatment changes to the interdisciplinary team as appropriate.
Communicate laboratory results and recommendations to physicians, facility staff, and providers of patient care in nursing facilities, hospitals, and short- or long-term care facilities, as appropriate.
Participate in relevant staff, quality-improvement, and care-plan meetings.
Consult with the FMS Corporate Dietitian regarding nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills.
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 assigned nutrition-management and related duties.