Patient Food Services Coordinator

The Patient Food Services Coordinator ensures accurate, timely, and safe delivery of meals to patients while supporting high-quality customer service in a healthcare setting. This role serves as the liaison between the Nutrition Services department, nursing units, and patients to ensure diet orders, meal selections, and food service processes meet clinical requirements and patient preferences.

Typical Schedule

Varied shifts including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on department needs.

Qualifications

• Required:
  • High school diploma or GED.
  • Experience in food service, hospitality, or customer service.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to read and interpret diet orders, menus, and nutrition guidelines.
  • Basic computer proficiency.

• Preferred:

  • Experience in a healthcare or hospital food service environment.
  • Knowledge of therapeutic diets and nutrition terminology.
  • Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.

Responsibilities Include:

Patient Meal Coordination

• Review and process patient diet orders, therapeutic diet changes, allergies, and food preferences.
• Coordinate daily meal selections using electronic or paper menu systems.
• Ensure meal trays are assembled according to diet prescriptions and accuracy standards.
• Monitor tray delivery, pick-up, and timely service according to hospital schedules.

Patient Interaction & Customer Service

• Engage directly with patients to support menu choices and provide guidance on diet restrictions.
• Respond to patient concerns or special requests and communicate them to kitchen staff or clinical dietitians.
• Promote a positive patient experience through polite, professional, and empathetic communication.

Clinical & Departmental Support

• Collaborate with nursing and clinical dietitians to clarify diet changes and nutrition care needs.
• Track and communicate nutrition-related issues such as poor intake or missing meals.
• Maintain compliance with safety and sanitation regulations (HACCP, infection control).
• Assist with training new staff on patient meal workflow and service standards.

Operations & Administration

• Update daily census, diet rosters, and room changes in food service systems.
• Monitor tray accuracy metrics and assist with quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure proper functioning of equipment related to trayline and meal delivery.
• Maintain logs and documentation as required for regulatory and departmental compliance.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrates OMC's core behavioral standards and values in daily work.
• Attention to detail
• Customer and patient centeredness
• Teamwork & communication
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Commitment to food safety & sanitation