Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Kyle, TX

14d

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), Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI), and other process improvement activities that help patients achieve individualized goals established by their physicians. Assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease, delivers individualized nutrition education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, and participates in comprehensive assessments and written care planning. Monitors nutritional status, laboratory results, treatment response, and adherence; identifies patients at risk of malnutrition; adjusts nutrition therapy as appropriate; documents care; and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, physicians, caregivers, and other providers on patient interventions and treatment recommendations. The role also includes participating in staff and care-plan meetings, reporting nutrition QAI results, coordinating appropriate pre-ESRD education, consulting with the FMS Corporate Dietitian as needed, maintaining professional knowledge and credentials, and helping ensure work areas are safe and clean. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Work takes place in a health care facility and includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and care teams, and travel between assigned facilities and other community locations. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. The employee may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.

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 ability to teach, 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 certification is encouraged.
Previous renal experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease and provide education tailored 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.
Collaborate 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 patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, collaborate on appropriate interventions, and review each patient’s albumin level and body weight at least monthly.
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 goal achievement.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate on management and recommendations concerning mineral metabolism and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutrition, psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation, and sodium/volume control.
Follow company 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 to the interdisciplinary team, and communicate results and recommendations to physicians, facility staff, and other care providers 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 and maintain dietetic registration and required continuing-education hours.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to help keep work areas safe and clean.
Perform other nutrition management and related duties as assigned.