Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Detroit, MI

26d

About The Position

Provides nutritional services to 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, including process improvement efforts that help patients achieve individualized goals set by their physicians. Assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease, delivers education suited to their learning needs, and provides patient-specific education to patients, families, and caregivers about nutritional status, adequacy measures, fluid status, and nutrition-related laboratory results. Completes nutritional assessments, contributes to interdisciplinary assessments and individualized care plans, calculates diet prescriptions, and documents progress and care in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations. Provides ongoing nutrition assessment and counseling; identifies and addresses malnutrition and risk of malnutrition; reviews albumin and body weight at least monthly; and monitors and adjusts nutrition therapy to support effective nutritional status. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team on dialysis adequacy, mineral metabolism, renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, psychosocial and rehabilitation status, vascular access, modality, and sodium and volume control. Reviews nutrition-related laboratory results, counsels patients or caregivers, recommends treatment changes, and communicates results and recommendations to relevant care providers. Participates in QAI and staff and care-plan meetings, coordinates appropriate pre-ESRD education, consults with the FMS Corporate Dietitian as needed, and maintains dietetic registration and continuing education. The role has no supervisory responsibilities. The work is based in a healthcare facility and includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and care teams, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as per 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 leadership competencies and skills, including teaching ability, strong organizational skills, excellent communication, customer service, relationship development, results orientation, team building, and decision making.
Ability to perform responsibilities with minimal supervision.
Basic computer skills.

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 appropriate 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 requirements.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standard 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 and resources.
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 goals, and implement care plans to address those barriers.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate on management and recommendations for mineral metabolism and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation status, and sodium and volume control.
Follow 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.
When appropriate, work with the Case Manager to coordinate patient education 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 results and recommendations to physicians, facility staff, and other care providers.
Participate in relevant staff, quality improvement, care-plan, and other applicable meetings.
Consult with the FMS Corporate Dietitian regarding nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills, dietetic registration, and continuing education as required by the American Dietetic Association and applicable state licensing regulations.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to help ensure work areas are safe and clean.
Perform other assigned nutrition-management and related duties.