Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•University City, MO

20d•Onsite

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 FMCNA Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI) activities, and other process improvement efforts that help patients achieve individualized goals set by their physicians. Assesses patients’ understanding of diet and kidney disease, provides patient-specific education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, calculates diet prescriptions, and contributes to individualized plans of care. Monitors nutritional status, laboratory results, albumin levels, body weight, adherence, and response to nutrition therapy; recommends or implements appropriate interventions in collaboration with patients, caregivers, physicians, and the interdisciplinary team. Maintains required documentation and participates in quality, care planning, and staff meetings. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a healthcare facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels, and may involve exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Daily work includes desk and computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. No supervisory responsibilities are listed.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as defined 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 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.
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 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.
Help develop 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 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 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 goals, and address issues affecting patients’ ability to achieve goals.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to meet the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate on management and recommendations related to mineral metabolism and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation, 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, coordinate patient education plans with the Case Manager 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 providers in nursing facilities.
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, including dietetic registration and continuing education requirements.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure work areas are safe and clean.
Perform other assigned nutrition management and related duties.