Registered Dietitian

Fresenius Medical Care•Rosedale, MD

11d•$65,000 - $109,000

About The Position

Provides nutritional services for 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 related process-improvement activities. The role focuses on helping patients achieve individualized, physician-determined goals through assessment, education, counseling, and coordinated nutrition care. The Registered Dietitian assesses patients’ understanding of diet and kidney disease; provides individualized education to patients and their families or caregivers; completes nutritional and comprehensive assessments; calculates diet prescriptions; develops and implements individualized plans of care with the interdisciplinary team; and monitors nutritional therapy and outcomes. The position also reviews nutrition-related laboratory results, recommends appropriate interventions, documents care in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations, and collaborates with facility staff, physicians, and other care providers. The role requires maintaining dietetic registration and applicable continuing education, keeping professional knowledge and skills current, and helping ensure work areas are safe and clean. The work takes place 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 position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as per the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Current state licensure, where 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 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.
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 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, fluid status, and nutrition-related laboratory results.
Complete nutritional assessments and participate in interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments.
Work with the interdisciplinary team to develop written, individualized comprehensive plans of care that address patient needs and comply with applicable guidelines.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standards of 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 support effective nutritional status.
Identify patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition and collaborate with the team on 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 achieving goals, and implement care-plan responses.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on mineral metabolism, 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 when appropriate.
Work with the Case Manager on patient education plans and identify candidates for physician referral for nutritional supplements, as appropriate 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 the interdisciplinary team, 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 about nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills, dietetic registration, and required continuing education.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to help keep work areas safe and clean.
Perform other assigned nutrition-management and related duties.