Nutrition Services Program Coordinator

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Nutrition Services Program Coordinator (NSPC) provides nutrition services for assigned locations and serves in a leadership role to manage oversight of the Nutrition Services program at multiple IHA primary care offices.  Proactively looks for ways to improve patient care and quality metrics, implement best practices and is innovative in creating plans for growing the program.

NSPC is responsible for supporting the employee wellness program, collaborating with the health and wellness coordinator and providing education and resources that encourage a healthy lifestyle. Actively participates on the William J Fileti Lifestyle Medicine Team that focuses on a therapeutic approach to addressing chronic disease, such as disease reversal through diet and behavior change. 

The Nutrition Services Program Coordinator will use their knowledge of advanced practice dietetics to ensure nutrient integrity and evidence-based practice.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Management Responsibilities

1. Proactively looks for ways to improve patient care and quality metrics, implement best practices, and is innovative in creating plans for growing the program.
2. Effectively searches for, and reports on, new programs and research data with accuracy and thoroughness.
3. Responsible for supporting the employee wellness program, collaborating with the health and wellness coordinator and providing education and resources that encourage a healthy lifestyle. Actively participates on the William J Fileti Lifestyle Medicine Team that focuses on a therapeutic approach to addressing chronic disease, such as disease reversal through diet and behavior change. 
4. Uses knowledge of advanced practice dietetics to ensure nutrient integrity and evidence-based practice.
5. Develops culturally-diverse nutrition plans.
6. Develops objectives of care, education, standards of practice and programs to assess outcomes of diagnosis and treatment plans.
7. Provides and recommends appropriate education and training to ensure dietitians have up-to-date education that supports evidence based guidelines.
8. Performs bi-annual chart audits to ensure the dietitians are documenting standard information.
9. Ensures Registered Dietitian billing guidelines are followed by all program dietitians.
10. Works with billing department to resolve any billing or denial issues.
11. Provides feedback into performance review and corrective action plans.
12. Works with leadership team to identify areas of growth, investigate compliance and regulatory guidelines for providing care, and make recommendations on workflows.
13. Develops and coordinates nutrition-related content to support program needs.
14. Prepares reports to visually demonstrate program outcomes.
15. Manages oversight of the Nutrition Services program to ensure efficient, fiscally responsible and customer responsive procedures and operations.
16. Maintains organizational memberships in required programs to support the work of the Nutritional Services staff.

Registered Dietitian Responsibilities

1. Evaluates, recommends, educates and implements comprehensive and specialized nutritional support for patients with treatment and diagnostic needs.
2. Creates and provides nutrition presentations, education programs and training to patients and their families.
3. Interprets patient histories and physician instructions.
4. Interprets diet prescriptions, evaluates their appropriateness and initiates necessary changes.
5. Obtains and evaluates past and present eating habits of assigned patients and records appropriate findings in patient’s medical record.
6. Uses Motivational Interviewing skills; instructs patients of the need for modifications to their normal diets and how to measure the effectiveness of the required changes. Conducts both face-to-face and virtual visits with patients.
7. Prepares patients to return to the community by continuing patient education and referrals to appropriate community agencies.
8. Records treatment provided and patient progress and responses in medical record.
9. Documents patient information in a timely and accurate manner to ensure continuity of high-quality health care.
10. Completes forms in accordance with office and IHA protocols.
11. Serves as liaison between patient and physician when necessary.  Ensures timely and courteous follow-up regarding patient questions.

Other Responsibilities

1. Maintains compliance with government and reimbursement requirements and with clinic standards of care.
2. Supports other offices, attends meetings and training as assigned.
3. Other duties as needed.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

1. Creates a positive, professional, service-oriented work environment for staff, patients and family members by supporting the mission and values of both IHA and Trinity Health.
2. Must be able to work effectively as a member of the Specialty Care Team.  
3. Successfully completes IHA’s “The Customer” training and adheres to IHA’s standard of promptly providing a high level of service and respect to internal or external customers.
4. Maintains knowledge of and complies with IHA standards, policies and procedures.
5. Maintains complete knowledge of office services and in the use of all relevant office equipment, computer and manual systems.
6. Maintains strict patient and employee confidentiality in compliance with IHA and HIPAA guidelines.
7. Serves as a role model by demonstrating exceptional ability and willingness to take on new and additional responsibilities.  Embraces new ideas and respects cultural differences.
8. Uses resources efficiently.
9. Responsible for ongoing professional development – maintains appropriate licensure/certification and continuing education credentials, participates in available learning opportunities.

MEASURED BY:

Performance that meets or exceeds IHA CARES Values expectation as outlined in IHA Performance Review document, relative to position.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: 

Master’s degree in dietetics or foods and nutrition or an equivalent combination of education and experience is necessary. Completion of an approved hospital dietetic internship is required.

CREDENTIALS/LICENSURE:   
Registration by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Valid CPR certification. Certification in Lifestyle Medicine within first year of employment. Certified Diabetic Educator (CDE) preferred.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE: Minimum 5-7 years’ experience.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS (ABILITIES & SKILLS):

1. Knowledge of patient nutrition care management procedures and policies related to position responsibilities.
2. Knowledge of the compliance aspects of clinical care and patient privacy and best practices in medical office operations.
3. Possesses strong Motivational Interviewing skills.
4. Demonstrated experience in talent acquisition, support of complex employee relations issues, performance management, employee communication and/or change management.
5. Proficient/knowledgeable in medical terminology.
6. Ability to compute mathematical calculations.
7. Proficient in operating a standard desktop and Windows-based computer system, including but not limited to, electronic medical records, email, e-learning, intranet, Microsoft Word and Excel, and computer navigation.  Ability to use other software, such as Nutrition Specialist Template and Care Management Template, as required while performing the essential functions of the job.
8. Excellent communication skills in both written and verbal forms, including proper phone etiquette.  Ability to speak before groups of people (either in-person or virtual) and displays positive listening and relationship-building skills. Demonstrates ability to influence and negotiate individual and group decision-making.
9. Self-motivated and self-directed.
10. Good organizational and time management skills to effectively juggle multiple priorities and time constraints.
11. Ability to exercise sound judgement and problem-solving skills, specifically as it relates to resolving nutrition issues.
12. Ability to work effectively with various levels of organizational members and diverse populations including IHA staff, providers, patients, family members, insurance carriers, vendors, external customers and community groups.
13. Ability to cross-train in other areas of practice in order to achieve smooth flow of all operations.
14. Good organizational and time management skills to effectively juggle multiple priorities and time constraints.
15. Ability to exercise sound judgement and problem-solving skills.
16. Ability to handle patient and organizational information in a confidential manner.
17. Ability  to complete additional Healthstream requirements as assigned.
18. Ability to drive to other office/practice sites and meeting and training locations.
19. Successful completion of IHA competency-based program within introductory and training period.