The Registered Dietitian ensures that quality nutritional services are provided to residents on a daily basis to meet their prescribed Plan of Care in accordance with company standards and federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Care Management and Service Delivery

• Listens and responds to the needs of residents and staff members.
• Reviews the dietary requirement of each resident admitted to the facility and assists the attending physician in planning for the residents prescribed Plan of Care.
• Develops a Plan of Care that identifies the dietary problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each dietary problem need identified.
• Assures that the resident’s individual needs are met by following special diet orders and serving food in accordance with established portion control procedures.
• Visits the residents periodically to evaluate the quality of meals served, likes and dislikes, etc.
• Reviews Plan of Care and menus to assure they are in compliance with the physician’s orders.

Administration and Reporting

• Ensures that Plan of Care and progress notes pertaining to nutritional history, assessments, and significant changes in diet are informative and descriptive of the services provided and the residents’ response to the services.
• Maintains current and accurate records through use of computers and/or other documentation in accordance with company standards and federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations.

Quality, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Observes the preparation and serving of food at meal times to ensure meals are compliant with the residents’ Plan of Care.
• Coordinates and ensures the quality of nutritional care with the Director of Culinary and Nutritional Services and Director of Nursing.
• Ensures that established quality assurance, infection control, and universal precaution practices are maintained when performing dietary procedures.
• Assists with identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related functions to ensure the culinary services tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Reviews, develops, and implements a plan of correction for culinary and nutritional services concerns and/or deficiencies noted during quality assurance and state and city survey inspections and provides to Director of Dining Services.
• Maintains the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Willingly and consistently shares observations and insights of departmental operations that may improve quality and efficiencies of department
• Works independently with minimal direction conducting resident nutritional counseling to recommend and make decisions on their diet and nutritional needs based on thorough planning and analysis.
• Distributes dietary requirements to food production staff through diet cards and tallies.
• Coaches and educates staff members on individual residents’ nutritional needs.
• Inspects food storage areas for upkeep and supply control and make recommendations as appropriate.
• Assists in developing and maintaining dietary and nutritional policies and procedures.
• Serves on various committees and attends meetings of the community providing written and/or oral reports of services and activities regarding the department

Education

• Bachelor's degree in dietetics or nutrition from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) required.
• Registered Dietitian (RD) license from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) required.
• Current unencumbered license as a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Ohio Board of Dietetics required.

Experience

• Two years experience as a Registered Dietitian in a hospital, long-term care facility, or other related health care environment required.
• Experience in menu planning and development, food cost control, and diet required.
• Knowledge of dietary practices/therapy and procedures, as well as federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations governing the life plan community preferred.
• Proficiency with Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and the internet.