Dietitian

Job Description

Job Description

Responsibilities

The  Dietitian completes participant nutritional assessments and reassessments, screens and assesses participant’s nutritional status and uses pertinent data to plan and implement appropriate nutrition interventions, obtains participant food preferences and makes dietary modifications as needed, in addition to providing nutrition education to participants, caregivers and InnovAge PACE staff. Physical attendance at an InnovAge facility and/or an InnovAge participant home is essential to performing the job duties.

Participant Care– 60%
• Develops and implements nutritional Plan of Care (POC) for participants and reassesses every six (6) months for each participant, or as necessary if there are changes in participant status.
• Assesses participants’ access to food and makes referrals to Inter-Disciplinary Team (IDT) for; meal preparation evaluation, Meals on Wheels, sack lunches and grocery shopping needs.
• Determine participants’ need for and orders liquid nutritional supplements accordingly.
• Designs and implements the nutritional components of participant care plans including active participation and development of therapeutic dining programs.
• Provides instruction to participants and caregivers regarding dietary regimens and nutritional requirements. Home visits may be necessary.
• Develops and implements the nutrition care plans for high risk participants including medical therapy recommendations.
• Communicates with In Home Service providers regarding participants’ stock of groceries, intake of food and fluids at home or as needed.
• Monitors food intake, therapeutic diets and special dietary modifications and communicates information and concerns with the IDT.
• Calculates data obtained from food intake records and calorie counts, and makes recommendations for changes to appropriate staff.
• Documents nutrition notes in the participant’s medical record.
• Communicates diet changes and nutrition concerns with dietary aides, interdisciplinary team, participants and/or caregivers.
• Provides basic nutrition and sanitation education for participants, families, primary caregivers and/or InnovAge PACE staff as needed.
• Assists with meal service on an as needed basis.
• Participates within the interdisciplinary team in the formulation of Plans of Care for InnovAge PACE program participants, as well as in other interdisciplinary team settings that plan, coordinate and monitor the care of InnovAge PACE program participants.
• Additional work functions and duties may be assigned

Administration – 40%
• Conducts sanitation and safety checks for kitchen and kitchen equipment as needed.
• Monitors adequacy of lunch and snack menus for the ADHC and notes/makes changes as necessary.
• Updates the sack lunch list, supplement sheet, diet lists and assisted dining room guide as needed.
• Attends Care Planning conferences, Family and wound care meetings and reports on nutritional status of participants.
• Assists in the training of new Dietary Aides and Lead Dietary Aides.
• Participates in work area development, in-service training and department meetings.
• Works with the State Food Program as guided by state rules and regulations
• Participates in the development and implementation of InnovAge PACE Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Plan for nutrition services.

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, nutrition, and/or dietetics from an accredited college/university is required.
• Current medical terminology and the ability to complete written assessments and document participant care.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience working with the frail or elderly is required.

• CA: Certification by Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian
• CO: Certification by Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian
• FL:  State Board License; Certification by Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian; StateServ Certification obtained within 30 days of employment 
• NM:  State Board License; Certification by Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian
• PA:  State Board License; Certification by Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian

PREFERRED

• Bilingual preferred