Outpatient Registered Dietitian

Dietitian Nutritionist

Major Responsibilities:

• Nutritional care for patients is provided in accordance with physicians' orders and standards of quality nutritional care that appropriately meet age, psychosocial and physical needs of patients.
• Medical record documentation supports system coding standards to maximize reimbursement rates
• Reviews medical records for pertinent data. Develops and implements medical nutrition therapy and communicates with the health care team in a collaborative and multidisciplinary manner.
• Monitors nutrition care, identifies changes in the patient's nutritional status, and monitors progress made.
• Documents nutrition interventions in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with department standards and regulatory requirements.
• Attends meetings, rounds and care conferences as assigned to coordinate and collaborate nutrition goals.
• Within the scope of the MNT protocol. orders diets, supplements, nutrition support, vitamins/minerals, and labs as indicated.
• Performs Nutrition Focused Physical Assessments on moderate and high nutrition risk patients
• Works with high risk populations to prevent malnutrition contributing to readmissions.
• Provision of nutrition education on prescribed diet, per established priority system, in order to improve patient knowledge/understanding of nutrition, diet therapy and compliance on prescribed diet. Education is provided to inpatients, outpatients, family members and the public through individual counseling, classes and community education.
• Evaluates and takes appropriate action regarding the diet for which nutrition consultation has been ordered.
• Provides nutrition education, as appropriate to the patient's needs, in accordance with established hospital policy, patient's readiness to learn, learning needs and barriers to learning.
• Documents nutrition education in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with department standards and regulatory requirements.
• Effective communication with patients/families, department managers, supervisors, coordinators, peers, staff and other health care professionals in a positive and results-oriented fashion.
• Mentors students, interns and residents as assigned.
• Serves as an educational preceptor to dietetic interns and nutrition students.
• Follows HIPAA guidelines and established patient privacy rights.
• Communicates according to Advocate's Mission, Values and Philosophy guidelines.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and other pertinent committees as assigned.
• Serves as a liaison to physicians, house staff, nursing services and food and nutrition services associates regarding clinical nutrition best practices, developments and trends.
• Supportive of department efforts to ensure compliance with department standards, policies and procedures, as well as, DNV and local health department regulations.
• Participates in department's competency assessment program by identifying areas of clinical practice to be assessed, developing competencies, assessing skills/knowledge base and working with Manager to develop plan to correct identified deficiencies in order to attain improvement/maintain competency.
• Participates in department's PI program by accepting and completing assignments; working to evaluate all processes and resolve identified criterion in order to meet standards for quality and appropriateness of patient care. Achieve positive outcomes and customer satisfaction.
• Develops and revises nutrition education materials and departmental policies and procedures as requested.
• Supports system safety efforts by practicing hand hygiene as indicated, using patient identifiers and by utilizing the safety event reporting system.
• Participates in the patient meal QA program and may provide operational support to the FNS department.

Licensure:

• Dietitian Nutritionist

Education/Experience Required:

• Graduate from a 4 yr. accredited college with degree in Nutrition or Dietetics or equivalent and successful completion of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics registration requirements.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to respond to the needs of a diverse patient population. Ability to develop patient educational materials
• Registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. RD eligible considered. Licensed by the State of Illinois.

Physicial Requirements and Working Conditions:

• This position can recognize needs and behaviors of the following age groups: pediatric(infant, toddler, school age), adolescent, adult and older adult. Evidence of this can be shown by recognizing levels of development and modifying approach and exhibiting communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses. Ability to be on your feet for extended periods of time. Flexible hours. Weekend hours may be required.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.