CLINICAL DIETICIAN

  The Registered Dietitian (RD) demonstrates excellent customer service performance in that his/her attitude and actions are at all times consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission and Values of Covenant HealthCare and the commitment to Extraordinary Care for Every Generation. The Registered Dietitian responsible for the leadership and coordination of diet technicians, work processes, output and outcomes in support of providing quality nutrition care in assigned areas. This person will develop individualized age appropriate care plans utilizing standards deemed appropriate for the age. Care of the patient will be in collaboration with other team members as well as patient/family in the decision making process. The RD is responsible for implementation, monitoring, and control of the plan of treatment, the care to improve or maintain nutritional status, education on dietary restrictions and life style changes. The RD will consider cultural, religious practices, emotional barriers, desires, motivation to learn, physical and cognitive limitations and language barriers. The RD is a resource to other health professionals and works as a part of the interdisciplinary team regarding nutrition intervention for patients across the continuum of care.  

Provides direct patient care including: Nutrition assessments, nutrition screens, nutrition education, Nutrition Care Level III, calorie count, enteral and parenteral assessments with recommendations. 

Provides medical nutrition therapy for patients with and recovering from COVID-19. Adjustment of diets, increasing more restrictions for already imposed conditions within guidelines of physician diet order.

Documentation of patient care in the medical record Monitors follow-up care in a consistent, high quality, and timely manner.

Assist in the decrease in length of stay by aggressive nutrition intervention and timely diet education. 

Active participant of healthcare teams including patient care conferences and P & T committee.

Approves patient menus and supplements. 

Patient, family, and caretaker dietary counseling. 

Responsible for development and ongoing updates of educational material. 

Provides nutrition education to patients on an inpatient and outpatient basis Develops and coordinates outside speaking engagements for the community.

Preceptor for the CMUDI Dietetic Interns for approximately 50 weeks per year.

Develop and provide education to nursing staff, speech therapist, Family Practice Residency Inservices, Developmental Clinic for Peds, and Ages Clinic.

Actively uses CBORD Nutrition Services Suites software for monitoring patient care, and a few RD will be asked to be a super user to uphold the quality and changes in CBORD and EPIC Aid in the responsibility for meeting revenue and expenses through outpatient counseling, nutrition education classes, and by being proactive in the development of additional Medical Nutrition Therapy services. 

Actively involved in the Quality Improvement Program by developing new standards and performing quality improvement studies and membership on Performance Improvement Teams.

Assists in Care Plan development to ensure appropriate and quality nutrition care is received consistently, including collaboration with other hospital services (med staff, nursing, pharmacy, social work, etc).

Engages in the Customer Service Team and assists in implementing customer service improvements.

Contributes to the passing of inspections in the department by meeting standards for regulatory agencies (HFAP or HCFA).

Seeks out opportunities to constantly improve, upgrade, and simplify the care and services provided to customers. 

Responsible for a clinical audit for RD and Diet Technicians bi-yearly. 

Provides direction and leadership for Diet Technicians, Hospitality Ambassadors, and Food Service Workers.

Assumes leadership role and responsibility in absence of the Clinical Nutrition Manager Assumes responsibility to expand knowledge of dietetics and enhances current competencies through continuing education, graduate classes, going to seminars, and attending intern literature searches and case studies. 

Provides leadership to other health professionals and is ultimately responsible for the nutritional management of all patients in Covenant in collaboration with physicians

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: 
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition or Dietetics, and completion of Dietetic Internship, Registration eligible followed by successful completion of Registration with Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). 
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
Must have average to high competency of computer knowledge and ability to learn new software. 
Preferable knowledge of EPIC and CBORD Medical Terminology Diet Information. 
Anatomy & Physiology. 
Strong organization skills and attention to detail. 
Excellent problem solving and analytical skills. 
Strong Customer Service skills. 
Strong Communication skills. 
Ability to work either independently or in a group. 
Ability to prioritize work to meet deadlines Ability to handle stressful situations. 
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
Ability to maintain punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards. 
Constant lifting up to 10 lbs. 
Constant carrying and visual accommodation. 
Frequent lifting up to 25 lbs. 
Frequent standing, walking, sitting, lifting, reaching, handling, feeling, talking, hearing, tasting, smelling, near vision, midrange vision, far vision and color vision. 
Occasional lifting up to 100 lbs. 
Occasional pushing, pulling, crouching, twisting, depth perception and field of vision.