Description

Job Summary

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist provides health education to UCHC patients in various settings such as individual consult, group meetings, and telephone contact. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the Nutrition and Health Education component of UCHC health care services to patients. The Registered Dietitian is part of an interdisciplinary team that includes the Medical Provider, Medical Assistant, Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dentist, and Quality Improvement Staff.

Duties and responsibilities

• Provide Medical Nutrition Therapy and nutritional screening for UCHC patients at any time during the patient’s health care continuum, including pediatrics, perinatal nutrition, adult nutrition, chronic disease management, and geriatrics.
• Conduct assessment of patient’s nutritional risk status utilizing patient medical diagnosis and Provider orders, patient medical history/lab data, social determinants of health, and other clinical information relating to patient care.
• Determine nutritional diagnosis and develop individualized intervention and care plan.
• Provide long-term monitoring and evaluation of patient nutritional status and health goals.
• Schedule and conduct follow-up visits based on the acuity of illness, medical diagnosis, and patient need per assessment and care team input.
• Confer with, serve as a resource for, and communicate with Providers and clinic staff, the patient(s), and the patient’s family/pertinent persons regarding the patient plan of care and critical information as appropriate.
• Ensure continuity of care for UCHC patients between internal UCHC Health services, programs, and providers while providing precise, and timely communication.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex patient cases, work-Aflow, and processes related to operations and the Integrated Care Model.
• Follow department, scope-specific, and UCHC guidelines, policies, procedures, and protocols for patient care and service quality (i.e., make recommendations to providers on medication/insulin needs and/or adjustments and adjust insulin for patients with Diabetes per standing orders/protocols).
• Provide discipline-specific input for the development, approval, implementation, and annual revisions of Nutrition and Health Education protocols and serve as a discipline-specific expert consultant to UCHC staff/providers as assigned.
• Ensure correct and timely documentation and billing in the patient’s medical record, utilize appropriate organizational electronic communications systems, and communicate by other suitable means on patient care plan.
• Collaborate with and refer patients to external services, programs, agencies, and Providers as needed.
• Assist in program assessment, development, and implementation of new programs/protocols/trainings based on department and UCHC needs.
• Assist and/or leads in developing/revising, implementing, and promoting Nutrition and Health Education related educational materials, curricula, policies, procedures, protocols, templates, and marketing materials; organize and stock materials as necessary.
• Participate in new staff/student/intern competence and performance development and participate in community outreach events and community education as needed.
• Assume responsibility for ongoing professional development and continuing education by reviewing literature and professional journals, attending conferences/programs to update knowledge and skills, and continually seeking to improve and maintain professional competence.
• Seek out additional learning as the organization, department, and technology evolves/changes and accommodates patient needs.
• Participate in and attend all meetings as requested, including but not limited to department staff meetings, provider meetings/trainings, and program quality improvement (QI) subcommittees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field required; Masters in Nutritional Science, Public Health, Health Education, or related field preferred.
• Currently registered as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as defined by the California Business and Professional Code
• 1-5 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in an outpatient education department/health center teaching patients in individual and group settings.
• Must certify and remain current in CPR.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; Bilingual (English/Spanish) 
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills are required.
• Experience providing MNT and individual counseling.
• Experience with working at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), including working with underserved, uninsured, and minority populations.
• Experience with teaching and modeling self-management skills, concepts, resources, and tools related to health, lifestyle change, and behavior modification preferred.
• Experience with utilizing strategies in Motivational Interviewing.
• Experience working with patients with chronic diseases and other primary prevention programs preferred.
• Must have a professional and mature demeanor and maintain a positive attitude with changing conditions. Broad knowledge of public health and healthcare strategy.

Competencies

• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to treat all patients with the utmost kindness and consideration in the most trying situations. 
• Friendly personality with the desire to work with the public. 
• Ability to handle multi-functions. 
• Understanding of community based organizations. 
• Ability to take initiative and problem solve 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Excellent phone skills 
• Excellent organizational and prioritizing skills 
• Ability to present oneself as well as the company in a professional manner 
• Proficient in the use of a personal computer and corresponding programs, internet literate 
• Attention to detail 
• Interpersonal skills and customer service skills required 
• Extensive Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, MS Word, Excel. Minimum Qualifications The following minimum qualifications are established for this classification. Additional minimum qualifications and special conditions may apply to a specific position within this classification and will be stated on the job announcement 
• eClinicalWorks: 1 year (Preferred) 
• Patient interaction: 1 year (Preferred) 

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS 

• Must successfully pass a criminal history check which may include national or state fingerprint records check. 
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Driving may be necessary between clinics or to events. For position(s) with occasional/incidental driving, incumbents must possess a valid driver's license. Accommodation requests for an acceptable alternative method of transportation will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation. For position(s) with regular driving, incumbent(s) must also possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment. 

Job Type: Full-time Staff Development: 

• Attend and lead monthly (at a minimum) staff/department meetings. 
• Arrange or present at least quarterly at staff meetings to educate and train staff and to improve workflow efficiencies. 
• Provide staff training that was developed or arranged by the corporation.
• Seeks opportunity to collaborate with other specialties in promoting eCW best practice workflows 
• Other duties as assigned by the CEO, CMO, COO. 

Physical Requirement

• Physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 25 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved. The ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time is required.
• Flexibility to work in multiple locations throughout the week.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to travel to all UCHC facilities as needed.
• Occasionally required to sit and walk.
• Finger dexterity required.
• Hand coordination required.
• Specific vision abilities required for this job include: close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust or focus.