Responsible for providing clinical nutrition services, including nutrition assessment, modified diet formulation, self-management training and nutrition intervention to patients/residents. Ensures patient satisfaction, quality care, regulatory agency compliance, and good public relations are achieved through the safe and efficient use of resources.

Job must provide nutrition services in identified specialty area for a minimum of 70% of work load/responsibilities. Specialty areas include NICU, bariatric, renal, cardiac, diabetes, nutrition support, transplant, oncology, pediatrics and out-patient services. Any other areas must be approved by the Manager and Director.

This is a Clinical Dietician (CD) 3 position. In order to move to this level, the CD must have current certification and/or a Masters degree and present a process improvement project to the Clinical Dietician Mgt Team. If the project is approved, the Dietician can move to level 3. In order to maintain this level of competence, the CD must present a process improvement project every two years.

Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree Public Health Nutrition, Nutrition Science, Nutrition, Dietetics, or nutrition related field (Required) And

Minimum Work Experience
4 years Experience and/or completed internship, preferably in the area of maternal and child health. (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of medical staff, healthcare professionals, managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra.
Computer Skills: Possesses necessary skills to effectively operate the hospital’s electronic medical record system. Ability to operate a standard computer, including basic use of MS applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Process Improvement: Creates best practice using PI principles. The PI work includes measurable and reportable outcomes and data. The project includes a team and the effort must show benefit to the care of patients and provide strategic value to the Hospital. The project is presented and approved by the Project Approval Committee. Outcomes are disseminated through publication and/or presentation.

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Dietician (Required) Specialty certification required i.e. CDE, CSR, CSP, CNSC, when applicable. (Required)

Functional Accountabilities

• Assesses the nutritional status of neonates/ infants, pediatric, adolescent, adult and/or geriatric patient through documentation in the medical record. Uses parameters such as anthropometric measurements, nutrition-focused physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory values.

• Develops and revises a nutrition care plan based on information from the patient, medical record, family and health care team members.

• Incorporates current evidence-based research into practice.

• Utilizes physician/referring practitioner-driven protocols or other facility-specific processes to implement, initiate or modify order for diet or nutrition-related actions (e.g. nutrition supplements, dietary supplements, diet modifications, diet texture modifications for dentition or individual preferences, nutrition-related laboratory tests and medications, and nutrition education and counseling) consistent with specialized training where required, competence and approved clinical privileges and organization policy.

• Utilizes physician/referring practitioner-driven protocols or other facility-specific processes to manage nutrition support therapies (e.g., enteral and parenteral formula selection and rate adjustments based on energy needs or laboratory results, addition of designated medications and vitamin/mineral supplements to parenteral nutrition solutions or supplemental water for enteral nutrition, and placement of feeding tubes) consistent with specialized training where required, competence and approved clinical privileges and organization policy.

• Executes programs/services in an organized, collaborative, and customer-centered manner. Participates in process for ordering privileges required for expanded roles and enhanced activities consistent with federal and state practice acts.

• Adheres to facility confidentiality, HIPAA regulations, and patient rights policies.

• Complies with regulatory standards, including federal, state and accrediting agencies.

• Completes all required documentation, reports and logs in a timely, professional and thorough manner.

• Communicates effectively with all team members, patients and families through conferences, individual consultation and committee participation. This includes in-person, telephone, written, and electronic communication.

• Orients, mentors and trains staff and interns, as applicable.

• Advises department on patient care and food service issues.

• Assists with menu planning based for diets relevant to their specialty areas in collaboration with the food service management team.

• Follows facility and department infection control policies and procedures.

• Participates in facility-wide and department Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program and on QAPI teams to improve processes and patient care.

• Participates in and attends departmental meetings, staff development, patient care rounds and professional programs, as appropriate.

• Visits patients on assigned nursing unit(s) and contributes to every patient being visited by a member of the management or professional team at least once during their hospital stay.

• Assists and contributes to patient satisfaction goals by providing quality service.

• Projects and practices consistent ownership attributes, which provide a high level of customer service at all points of contact.

• Reads and complies with all policies and procedures of the facility, Morrison Healthcare/TouchPoint and Compass as appropriate.

• Follows all security procedures for facility and department.

• Responds to utility failures per department policy.

• Follows facility, department, Morrison Healthcare/TouchPoint, and Compass safety policies and procedures to include incident reporting.

• Wears name tag identification and is aware of role in minimizing security incidents.

• Follows the facility’s protocols for Hazardous Materials and Waste Program.

• Adheres to Emergency Preparedness Program. Participates in disaster drills as appropriate.

• Adheres to Life Safety Program and participates in fire drills as appropriate.

• Performs other tasks that may be assigned.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance