Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•AZ204 FMCNA Western Skies - Clinic, AZ

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 Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI) activities, and process improvement efforts that help patients achieve individualized goals determined by their physicians. Assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease, provides education tailored to learning needs, and counsels patients and families on nutritional status, adequacy measures, fluid status, and nutrition-related laboratory results. Completes nutritional assessments, participates in comprehensive interdisciplinary assessments and individualized care planning, calculates diet prescriptions, and documents progress and care in accordance with FMCNA guidelines and applicable regulations. Provides ongoing nutrition assessment and counseling; identifies patients who are malnourished or at risk; monitors albumin, body weight, adherence, and response to therapy; and adjusts nutrition therapy and care plans as needed. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team on dialysis adequacy, mineral metabolism, renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation, and sodium and volume control. Reviews and communicates nutrition-related laboratory results and recommends appropriate actions or treatment changes. Participates in QAI and staff and care-plan meetings, coordinates pre-ESRD education and patient education plans as appropriate, and consults with the FMS Corporate Dietitian when needed. Maintains professional knowledge, dietetic registration, and continuing education. The role involves work in a healthcare facility, interaction with patients, facility staff and physicians, and travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community. Regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meeting travel may also be required. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as per the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Current state licensure, if applicable.
Minimum of 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 minimum 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 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.
Work with the interdisciplinary team to develop written, individualized comprehensive plans of care in accordance with applicable 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 malnourished patients and patients at risk for malnutrition, and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on interventions and resources.
Review each patient’s albumin level and body weight at least monthly and implement the care plan with patient, family, or caregiver involvement.
Monitor adherence and response to nutrition therapy, adjust therapy as needed, document barriers to goals, and implement 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, 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.
Work with the Case Manager, when appropriate, 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 as appropriate.
Participate in 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 professional and state licensing rules.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure work areas are safe and clean.
Perform other nutrition management and related duties as assigned.