Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Midfield, AL

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 intended to help patients achieve individualized goals set by their physician. The Registered Dietitian assesses patients’ nutrition knowledge and needs, provides individualized education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, calculates diet prescriptions, and participates in developing and implementing comprehensive plans of care. The role monitors nutritional status and response to nutrition therapy, identifies and supports patients at risk of malnutrition, reviews nutrition-related laboratory results, and recommends or coordinates appropriate interventions with patients, caregivers, physicians, and the interdisciplinary team. The position maintains accurate medical records and progress notes, participates in QAI and staff and care plan meetings, coordinates pre-ESRD education and other patient education as appropriate, and maintains dietetic registration and continuing education. The role has no supervisory responsibilities. Work is performed 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, or Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential through 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, 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.
Participate in developing written, individualized comprehensive plans of care in accordance with applicable federal and state guidelines.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standards of 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 those at risk, collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on 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 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 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 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, 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 the FMS Corporate Dietitian regarding nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills, 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 nutrition management and related duties as assigned.