Summary:

Supervise dietitians, dietetic technicians, office support staff, and/or food service workers; develop policies and procedures for departmental dietary activities; and work with medical staff and food service providers to ensure compliance with standards of nutritional care. Responsible for assuring that nutritional requirements and needs are met for all patients. Assess the patients’ nutritional status and identify those of nutritional risk, making recommendations when appropriate. Educate patients with special nutritional needs and monitor/evaluate the quality of nutritional care provided to patients. Complete reassessments and follow-up. Educate departmental staff and assure proper food service operation. Provide clinical coverage as necessary to meet staffing needs. Fill in for manager.

Responsibilities:

• Direct a comprehensive nutrition program for the care and treatment of patients.
• Interview and hire clinical dietitians and dietetic technicians to fill vacancies as necessary.
• Assign program specialties to department dietary staff based upon knowledge, training, and experience.
• Review departmental workload and assigns work or changes assignments according to patient load and staff availability.
• Meet with physicians, nurses, and administrators to develop or revise policies and procedures which relate to patient care or require interaction with other departments.
• Issue written and oral instructions governing work procedures of the dietary unit such as record keeping changes and develop standards for quality and quantity of work and review standards with institution administrators.
• Explain established work policies and procedures to dietary staff.
• Develop quality assurance plans to measure compliance with institutional standards of care and City/County/State or Federal program guidelines as applicable.
• Consult medical, nursing, and social service staffs concerning problems affecting patients' food habits and needs.
• Responsible for nutritional care plan development and follow up.
• Educate and assist patients and families in how to choose meals.
• Provide and explain materials and publications which are given to patients in support of the nutrition care plan.
• Participate in in-service training program demonstrating and explaining such topics as feeding methods and nutrition assessment methods to physicians, interns, and nursing staffs.
• Assist in making final decisions regarding allocation of department resources, hiring of staff and work schedules and defers to an administrative superior regarding policy decisions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Specific Competencies:

• Healthstream (HLC) modules completed by required date.
• Maintain licensure or certification without lapse, if required for the position.
• Maintain BCLS/ACLS certification, if required for the position.

Requirements:

Education/Skills

• Bachelor of Science Degree Graduate of an accredited Clinical Dietician program.

Experience

• Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Must possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patients’ nutritional status and interpret the information needed to identify each patients’ requirements/needs relative to his or her age specific needs including neonates/infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults and elderly/geriatric adult.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Dietitian License – Texas Department of Health required.

Work Schedule:

8AM - 5PM Monday-Friday

Work Type:

Part Time