Renal Registered Dietitian - Grace Medical Center

Summary

JOB SUMMARY: This position provides services and education to dialysis patient and authorized caregivers in clinical setting to support and maximize the patient’s nutritional well-being with in a chronic-care facility for the end stage renal disease patient in accordance with LifeBridge Health Policies, Procedures and Guidelines, OSHA, CMS, federal, state, and local regulations.

• Assess nutritional status to determine appropriate nutrition intervention and recommendations. Perform Initial Assessment within 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) or 13 treatments, whichever is later, or admission or transfer to facility. Perform re-assessment within 3 months of initial assessment Perform re-assessment annually for stable patients. Perform re-assessment monthly for unstable patients.
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Care Plan based on assessment or re-assessment with 15 days (about 2 weeks) after completion of assessment, annually for stable patients and monthly for unstable patients.
• Review medical and diet history, consult with the patient and multidisciplinary team, document appropriate information and nutrition progress in medical record at least monthly.
• Develop individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy including meal plan(s) for each patient
• Provide nutrition education and counseling based on individualized patient needs including nutrient requirement, knowledge and abilities, medical, economic, and social situation.
• Select or develop educational material and methods appropriate for individual patients.
• Monitor nutritional status, laboratory values, dialysis adequacy, adherence to diet and response to nutrition related medications and therapy to determine appropriate nutrition intervention and recommendations.
• Revise and update nutritional recommendations and nutritional care plan as needed.
• Review monthly lab results with each patient and/ or caregiver and provide patient with a printed patient nutrition report.
• Function as a Mineral and Bone Disorder Specialist.
• Participate in anemia management.
• Participated in rounds, patient care conferences, and continuous quality improvement teams (QAPI (Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement), facility team meetings and in-services.
• Manager with hospitalization tracking
• Administer quality patient care in a considerate, respectful manner always
• Perform all functions conscientiously and in a timely manner within established guidelines.
• Evaluate outcomes and identify factors that may contribute to undesirable results and document appropriately
• Document nutrition progress at least monthly
• Document according to Federal, State and LifeBridge Health Baltimore Health System requirements.
• Establish effective relationships with medical team, nursing, and other patient care team members.
• Establish effective relationship with patients and caregivers
• Contact and collaborate with extended care facility staff, family members or other appropriate medical personnel to facilitate adequate and appropriate nutritional care
• Effectively communicate pertinent nutrition issues with medical team
• Present nutrition related in-services for clinical team quarterly

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, Dietetics or similar area required
• Registered Dietitian status with Commission on Dietetic Registration
• State Licensure required in state of Maryland or where facility is located
• Minimum of two years’ professional work experience in clinical nutrition as Registered Dietitian required.
• 5 years of experience working in dialysis setting preferred
• Healthcare experience in free-standing or hospital-based dialysis unit
• The one of two years of professional work experience in clinical nutrition as a Registered Dietitian may be obtained by working under the supervision or a Registered Dietitian who meets the above qualifications.
• Exceptional time management skills
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written
• Critical thinking skills, analytical and works well within a team