Dietitian Clinical Informatics - Full Time - Days at Wellstar Health Systems in Austell, Georgia

Clinical Nutrition Informaticist

How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

The Clinical Nutrition Informaticist is a clinical professional with a Registered Dietitian background who reports to the Assistant Director of Patient Nutrition Services. This role provides clinical nutrition informatics services for the Nutrition and Food Services departments within WellStar Health System (WHS). Participates in the assessment of needs pertaining to nutrition-related information systems, including hardware, software, staff development and management support. Provides content expertise that supports care area teams. Analyzes, designs, implements and evaluates information and communication systems as related to clinical nutrition and patient meal services that enhance individual and population outcomes, improve patient care and strengthen the clinician-patient relationship.

This role assists with the development, maintenance and revision of nutrition components in the electronic health record and food service software systems that support patient care. Implements processes to promote evidence-based practice for the medical staff in the clinical software system. Performs patient and retail menu planning, as needed while using current state, federal and local nutrition practice guidelines. Conducts nutrient analysis for recipes and meal plans using approved nutrient databases and software.

In collaboration with Nutrition and Food Services leadership, this role designs, develops and implements clinical nutrition informatics plans. Applies change management methodologies to advance the utilization of nutrition informatics. Oversees end-user optimization and efficiency, embeds evidence-based practice and analytics model to ensure patient outcomes and improve performance. Works with members of information technology departments, providers, super-users, clinical departments and other WHS personnel to accomplish strategic goals.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Clinical Nutrition Informaticians use their knowledge of patient care combined with their understanding of informatics concepts, methods and health informatics. Analyzes clinical workflows and must be able to promote process changes to support the proficient use of the system.
• Assess nutrition-related information and knowledge needs of health care professionals and patients.
• Characterizes, evaluates and refines clinical nutrition and patient meal service processes.
• Works to ensure compliance with HIPAA and other regulatory requirements.
• Utilizes state guidelines, protocols, references and the nutrition care manual in the provision of nutrition services.
• Collaborates with culinary and other pertinent team members to conduct menu and nutrient analysis based on current federal, state and local nutrition guidelines.
• Maintains clinical nutrition and NFS policies and procedures, as they relate to computerized documentation.
• Coordinates complex projects and assists project leader and manager, where appropriate.
• Works independently on all routine assignments and strives to improve skills & problem-solving abilities.
• Completes assigned projects on time.
• Assists in the analysis, development, testing and implementation phases of new systems and future growth.
• Considers safety, effectiveness and cost in providing and delivering nutrition services and products.
• Participates in the development of project-specific work plans and tasks.
• Provides leadership on assigned projects.
• Analyzes and evaluates present or proposed business procedures or problems to define data processing needs and work flow.
• Leads or participates in the procurement, customization, development, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement of clinical information systems.
• Uses judgment and seeks assistance when guidelines, policies, and processes are inadequate, significant deviations are proposed or when unanticipated problems arise.
• May mentor and/or lead staff as associated with operational improvement processes and / or projects.
• Maintains current knowledge with respect to relevant technology, equipment and/or systems.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Assists with optimization enhancement noting when significant deviations are proposed or unanticipated problems arise.
• May mentor and/or lead staff as associated with operational improvement processes and / or projects.
• Maintains current knowledge with respect to relevant technology equipment, and/or systems. Stays informed of the changes in the Nutrition Care Process to reflect changes in practice.
• Provides support of multi-user operating systems, hardware and software tools, training, maintenance and support of these systems.
• Helps identify, monitor and resolve outstanding system/application problems and issues with clinical nutrition applications in a timely manner.
• Serves as a nutrition subject matter expert in one or more applications to act as the system expert and liaison to end-users.
• Provides nutrition expertise feedback on patient and retail menus.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn and improve troubleshooting skills by actively participating in education programs.
• Provide on-site support of software systems.
• Escalates problems to the proper person/groups in a timely manner.
• Assess situations and provides a professional and timely status under urgent conditions.
• Troubleshoots and resolves, or coordinates appropriate resources for hardware, software, and / or connectivity problems, including user access and component configuration.
• Provides advanced technical assistance and maintenance support to end users. Serves as first level support when assigned. Recommends/provides additional training as needs are identified.
• Monitors and provides user access to food software system, as appropriate.
• Conducts training with end users either one on one or group sessions.
• Works with culinary and pertinent team members to roll-out nutrition-related menu changes and nutrient analysis.
• Assists in creation of education/training documentation that help the end-users maximize the use of the features and functions of the application.
• Documents projects, writes and / or reviews user instructions and trains as needed.
• Assists in creation of training documentation that is user friendly, detailed and precise.
• Serves as a professional role model within the clinical settings.
• Serves as a mentor in the development of peers and staff.
• Initiates and promotes performance improvement activities designed to promote quality patient care and accountability.
• Participates in and identifies performance improvement criteria for nutrition care and nutrition promotion within the electronic health record and food service systems.
• Continuously evaluates and refines nutrition informatics services based on measured outcomes.
• Understands how nutrition information systems interface; uses judgement and seeks assistance when unanticipated problems arise.
• Actively supports IS and NFS policies, procedures and initiatives.
• Attends regular departmental and Town Hall meetings and promotes/exemplifies excellent customer service as aligned with WellStars Standards of Behavior.
• Exhibits tact, professionalism and good personal grooming; creates a favorable impression to the public and all health system staff through professional dress and good customer service skills.
• Provides services according to organization ethics, licensure and the Standards of Professional Practice for Dietetics Professionals.
• Participates on committees and attends meetings to represent nutrition as needed. Completes assigned projects.
• Participates in special projects as required.
• Enhances professional growth and development through education programs, workshops or other educational opportunities that may be presented.
• Stays informed of current events in clinical informatics and nutrition.
• Sets and achieves personal goals to advance career-related skills, knowledge and abilities and helps others to improve their skills.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Performs other duties as assigned. Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education: Bachelors Dietetics or Bachelors Food Nutrition or Bachelors Food Science or Bachelors Nutrition or Bachelors Nutrition Science Accredited Program Dietetics Required

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s): All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated. RD - Registered Dietician or RDN - Reg Dietician Nutritionist LD - Lic Dietician

Required Minimum Experience: Minimum 2 years as a dietitian (can be foodservice, clinical, etc.) and 6 months in information systems oversight (e.g. application analyst, superuser, etc.). Required and Preferred experience with a combination of clinical practice and information system implementations.

Required Minimum Skills: Ability to read, write and speak the English language. Strong customer service skills. Proficient in the use of Internet browsers and Microsoft Office products. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be organized and have the ability to analyze and trouble shoot problems. This individual must have good interpersonal skills and be able to work as part of a team. Ability to multi-task is essential, as is the ability to