Overview

Optimal nutrition is an important part of good health and a patient’s recovery. It is just one of the ways that Legacy strives to make life better for others. The Registered Dietitian provides their clinical nutrition expertise through nutrition assessment, education, and interventions to help improve patient outcomes. If you are a dietitian who enjoys working with patients and thrives being part of an interdisciplinary care team, we invite you to consider this opportunity.

Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center is the South metro area’s full-service medical center, with the friendly feel of a community hospital and the skill and services of a much larger medical center. Among our specialties: stroke, chest pain, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, cancer care, orthopedic and total joint surgery and a birth center and breast health center.

Responsibilities

Patient Care

Screens patients for nutrition risk.

Conducts a nutrition assessment for patients at nutrition risk and for dietitian consults. Obtains timely and appropriate data and analyzes/interprets data based on evidence-based standards.

Assesses patients for malnutrition through nutrition focused physical exams and other nutritionally relevant patient data.

Nutrition Order writing privileges per CMS guidelines, state regulation, and hospital policy.

Practices standardized nutrition charting through the nutrition care process.

Develops and implements an individualized plan for nutrition intervention in accordance with the patient’s medical program goals and objective, nutrition prescription, and self-management training. May require development of a therapeutic plan for specialized nutrition support, including enteral and parenteral nutrition.

Utilizes assessment and evaluation techniques that consider the varied needs of age-specific populations as well as cultural, religious and ethnic concerns.

Evaluates the effectiveness and measures progress towards outcomes of medical nutrition therapy interventions. Reassesses nutrition care process and implements changes as indicated.

Communicates with the medical team through interdisciplinary meetings, rounds, and direct dialog.

Provides appropriate documentation, in the electronic medical record, that summarizes the nutrition care plan including nutrition assessment, diagnosis, plan, implementation, and progress toward goals.

Works cooperatively with food service staff to assure conformance to diet prescription.

Demonstrates accountability for the proper use of patients’ protected health information.

Business-Related Functions

Maintains productivity standards and practices effective time management and prioritizing of tasks.

Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities including information for billing.

Manages resources (time and materials) in a cost-effective manner.

Assists in developing and revising patient education materials, clinical forms and practice guidelines.

Supports and promotes LHS infection control, safety, risk management and customer relation programs.

Assists in achieving compliance with JCAHO standards.

Participates in the orientation and training of new dietitians.

Nutrition Education

Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups.

Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by the patient and/or family. Provides appropriate follow-up in accordance with the patient’s treatment goals, referring patients for outpatient counseling, community or home health services as appropriate.

Serves as a resource to medical staff and allied health personnel on nutrition issues.

Assists in the education of dietetic interns.

Conducts in-services and educational presentations to hospital/department staff.

Demonstrates support for Continuous Quality Improvement.

Understands and can verbalize LHS CQI principles.

Identifies and collects performance improvement data, monitors outcomes, and initiates corrective actions.

Participates in LHS CQI efforts.

Participates in planning and developing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.

Professional Development

Maintains dietetic registration, applicable state licensure and continuing education requirements.

Develops and implements an individualized plan for professional growth and development including participation in professional organizations and activities, workshops, seminars, and staff development programs.

Qualifications

Education:

As required by applicable state licensure.

Skill Requirements:

Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form to patients, public, physicians and interdisciplinary health care team. Able to function independently on assigned patient care units. General knowledge of nutrient analysis, word processing and spreadsheet software. Basic familiarity with computers preferred.

Legacy's Values In Action:

Follows guidelines set forth in Legacy's Values in Action.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

Licensure

Certification / Licensure:

Registered Dietitian required. Applicable state licensure required.