Clinical Specialty Dietitian

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in overall health and it’s one of the many ways Legacy strives to make life better for others. When our patients receive the right dietary guidance, they take an important step toward improved well-being.

If you’re a dietitian who values close collaboration with patients and enjoys working as part of an interdisciplinary team, we invite you to consider joining our inspiring healthcare community as a Clinical Specialty Dietitian.

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 and orthopedic and total joint surgery. Plus, a birth center and breast health center.

The Clinical Specialty Dietitian works closely with the interdisciplinary health care team to provide clinical nutrition services and medical nutrition therapy that are integrated and compatible with the patient’s medical program goals and objectives. Primary responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement medical nutrition therapy using established standards of care and practice protocols/guidelines.
• Assess patients for malnutrition.
• Order writing privileges per CMS guidelines, state regulation, and hospital policy.
• Manage resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Participate in performance improvement efforts.
• Maintain professional competency and skills required for professional practice.

Education:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s or graduate level degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent field from an accredited university/college required.
• Completion of a Dietitian Internship or Coordinated Program approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) required.

Skills:        

• Solid knowledge of clinical nutrition specialty with emphasis on nutrition needs of patients with specialty nutrition needs.
• 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. 
• Knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process as it relates to the specialty nutrition needs of patients and ability to apply all steps of the process. 

• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist through the Commission on Dietetic Registration required.
• Licensed Dietitian by the Oregon Health Licensing Board of Licensed Dietitians required, or for practice in Washington State, Dietitian Certification through the Washington State Department of Health required.
• Must have certification in one of the following areas:
  • Certified Nutrition Support Clinician though the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification, or
  • Certified Diabetes Educator through the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators,     or  Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES),  or
  • International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant through the Board of Lactation Consultants, or
  • Board-Certified Specialist through the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR) in Gerontological, Oncology, Pediatric Nutrition, Certified Eating Disorders, Certified Specialist in Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition, Certified Sports Dietitian, Obesity and Weight Management, Renal Nutrition, or Advanced Practice in Clinical Nutrition.

Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.

If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.

Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you