Dietitian

Job Description

Job Description

The Dietitian provides nutritional services to patients in order to maximize the patients’ well-being and improve outcomes. Works as part of an Inter-Disciplinary Team to maximize patient care and support the company to meet the goals of the QAPI activities.

PRIMARY DUTIES / ACTIVITIES :

• Monitor subjective and objective data to determine the need for timely intervention and follow-up.
• Review patient lab work and make individualized recommendations / adjustments to diet and bone medications.
• Recommend therapeutic diets in consideration of cultural preferences and changes in treatment based on the patient’s nutritional needs in consultation with the patient’s physician.
• Counsel a patient, patient’s family, and a patient’s significant other on prescribed diets and monitoring adherence and response to diet therapy.
• Referring patients for assistance with nutrition resources such as financial assistance, community resources or in-home assistance.
• Follow federal and state regulations.
• Collect objective and subjective patient data to assess nutrition status. Responsible for a comprehensive nutrition assessment with an educational component within 30 days from patient admission to dialysis facility
• Conduct a nutrition reassessment annually or more often if indicated.
• Participate in monthly clinics with the patient and family members to review the prescribed diet and dietary compliance and make adjustments to bone medications per protocol and in conjunction with the Physician.
• Available to answer questions and discuss problems with the dialysis patients when excessive weight-gain occurs, or when other instances of suspected dietary non-compliance occurs.
• Available for staff education regarding the nutritional care of the patient.
• Participate in monthly interdisciplinary patient care conferences.
• Assure that follow-up progress notes are written in each patient’s records each month.
• Perform regularly-scheduled evaluations of standard menus as necessary for renal patients, revising and / or updating menus as necessary, and participates in monthly interdisciplinary patient care conference.
• Document patient’s care plan and long-term program.
• Will be available for conferences with salesmen concerning products that could be used in providing nutritional care for renal patients and makes recommendations for possible purchases.
• Participate in monthly QAPI meetings
• Participate in individual & group projects as directed by management
• Other duties, as assigned

CUSTOMER SERVICE :

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS :

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS :

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS :

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Day to day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with prospective and current clients. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations. Travel to scheduled staff meetings may be required.

The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. The work environment is also characteristic of a dialysis center or a patient’s home and as such the employee may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases / materials.