DIETETIC TECHNICIAN

Dietetic Technician

Mayers Memorial Hospital - Fall River Mills, CA 96028

Overview

Salary Range $25.00 - $30.79 Hourly Position Type Full Time Job Shift Day

Description

Reports To: Registered Dietitian (RD) and/or Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)

Employee Type: EXEMPT X NON-EXEMPT

Position Summary: The Dietetic Technician, Registered, provides nutrition and foodservice support services for patients and residents in acute care, swing bed, skilled nursing, and long-term care settings under the direction of the Registered Dietitian. The DTR participates in nutrition screening, nutrition care planning support, nutrition monitoring, meal service activities, regulatory compliance, quality improvement initiatives, and nutrition education while promoting high-quality patient and resident care.

This job description is intended to identify some of the primary duties and responsibilities. Mayers Memorial Hospital District reserves the right to modify, supplement, delete or augment the duties and responsibilities specified in this position description, at MAYERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S sole and absolute discretion.

Position Qualifications:

1. Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Foodservice Management, or related field.
2. Current Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
3. Experience in acute care, swing bed, skilled nursing, long-term care, hospital, or healthcare foodservice settings preferred. Knowledge of electronic medical records, CMS regulations, nutrition screening, and clinical documentation preferred.

Position Responsibilities:

Nutrition Assessment Support

1. Completes and documents nutrition screenings according to facility policy and regulatory requirements.
2. Collects food and nutrition-related information through medical record review, patient/resident interviews, family interviews, and collaboration with nursing staff.
3. Obtains and documents anthropometric, laboratory, dietary, and clinical information for RD review.
4. Identifies patients and residents at nutritional risk and communicates findings to the RD.
5. Documents nutrition-related information in the electronic medical record.

Nutrition Intervention and Care Planning

1. Assists with implementation of nutrition interventions and plans of care developed by the RD.
2. Participates in interdisciplinary care planning meetings as assigned.
3. Assists with updating food preferences, nourishment plans, supplement orders, and nutrition-related care plan information.
4. Provides basic nutrition education to patients, residents, and families as directed by the RD.
5. Coordinates between-meal nourishments, oral nutrition supplements, and other nutrition support interventions as ordered.
6. Communicates nutrition concerns and significant changes in status to the RD.

Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Monitors meal, snack, supplement, and fluid intake.
2. Evaluates food and nutrition intake from all available sources.
3. Monitors response to nutrition interventions and reports significant findings to the RD.
4. Documents progress toward nutrition goals and nutrition-related outcomes.
5. Tracks nutrition quality indicators including weights, intake trends, and supplement acceptance.
6. Reports significant weight changes, poor intake, skin integrity concerns, swallowing concerns, diet tolerance issues, or other nutrition-related risks.

Meal Service and Foodservice Support

1. Conducts meal rounds and meal tray assessments.
2. Observes meal service to evaluate intake, satisfaction, food quality, and service delivery.
3. Verifies and communicates diet order changes to dietary staff.
4. Assists with ensuring diet orders, food preferences, allergies, and special nutritional needs are accurately implemented.
5. Collaborates with dietary staff, nursing staff, providers, and the RD to support nutrition care.

Quality Improvement and Regulatory Compliance

1. Participates in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities.
2. Assists with audits, surveys, data collection, and regulatory compliance activities related to nutrition services.
3. Supports compliance with CMS, state, federal, and accreditation standards.
4. Maintains resident and patient confidentiality and complies with HIPAA requirements.
5. Assists with development and maintenance of nutrition-related policies, procedures, and educational materials.

Education and Professional Responsibilities

1. Maintains active Dietetic Technician credentialing through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
2. Participates in continuing education and professional development activities.
3. Attends departmental, interdisciplinary, and quality improvement meetings as assigned.
4. Provides staff education and in-service training as directed.
5. Performs other duties related to nutrition and dietary services as assigned.

Professional Requirements:

1. Adheres to dress code; appearance is neat and professional.
2. Completes annual education requirements if applicable.
3. Maintains regulatory requirements.
4. Wears identification while on duty.
5. Attends annual evaluation and participates actively in this process.
6. Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work in designated time.
7. Attends all meetings as appropriate.
8. Exhibits the mission, ethics and goals of Mayers Memorial Hospital District in the performance of job duties.

Working Conditions:

1. Willingness to work beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily when necessary.
2. Is involved with personnel, visitors and government agencies, etc., when necessary.
3. Must function independently, have personal integrity, have flexibility and the ability to work effectively with other personnel, clients and support agencies.

Physical Requirements:

1. Sits, stands, bends, lifts, walks and moves intermittently during working hours.
2. Able to lift 20 lbs.