Dietitian

Job Summary

The Dietitian assesses participants nutritional status and incorporates clinical data to plan and implement appropriate disease specific nutrition interventions as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team. Provides direction to Dietary Aide, Food Service Manager and Day Center CNA staff involved in providing food service to participants.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Monitors food service delivery and food service areas providing direction to staff involved as necessary to ensure that quality regulatory standards are consistently met. 
• Coordinates with food safety manager to ensure safe meals.
• Develops, along with the Sr Director of Nursing & Home Care, and implements quality standards and policies and procedures for nutritional services.
• Provides in-service education to PACE RI employees and participants related to nutritional services.                                                                       
• Documents in the EMR in accordance with CMS and PACE RI regulations. 
• Conducts a comprehensive nutritional assessment on all PACE RI participants upon enrollment 
• Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team, participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and collaboration on care planning and service allocation decisions.  
• Coordinates with the Dietary Aide and Day Center CNA’s to monitor meals, including intake, diet compliance, supplements, and plate accuracy. 
• Recommends and monitors for the use of supplements according to PACE RI guidelines. 
• Calculates data obtained from food intake records and calorie counts, supplements, and makes recommendations for changes to appropriate staff. 
• Develops and implements the nutrition care plans for high risk participants including medical therapy recommendations. 
• Monitor for significant weight changes and provide nutrition intervention.
• Evaluates menus for nutrition adequacy in the PACE centers.
• Evaluates emergency food supply for appropriateness and nutritional content at least yearly.  
• Provides instruction to participants and caregivers regarding dietary regimens and nutritional requirements. 
• May provides home visits to include family and participant teaching and menu planning.
• Participates in the development and implementation of PACE RI Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Plan for nutrition services. 
• Maintains current diet list for dietary staff and makes changes and additions when needed.
• Performs other duties/projects to support the department and participates on organizational committees.
• Maintains supplement, take home meal and dietary.
• Protects privacy and maintains confidentiality of sensitive participant, employee, participant, and agency information.  
• Required to work at all PACE-RI sites as necessary as well as in the community as needed.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of clear, thorough documentation as crucial to good participant care ; completes and enters accurate, thorough participant documentation in the electronic health record; enters documentation for assessments, orders, and notes within required timeframes.  
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Dependable and punctual with ability to maintain consistent attendance 
• Ability to read, write and comprehend English 
• Ability to maintain sound judgement under stress and communicate effectively 
• Ability to proficiently perform clinical/skilled tasks associated within scope of position
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite or similar software 

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (Food and Nutrition or Dietetics), Required
• Master's Degree, Preferred 

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 10 pounds and at times up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to navigate various departments of the organization's physical premises as well as related community care settings.
• Must be able to tolerate conditions typically associated within a medical office and/or home care setting including potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases.  

Experience

• 2 Years of direct service work, Preferred
• 1 year of nutritional services experience with frail or elderly population, Required
• 1 year of experience working with a frail or elderly population, Preferred 

License & Certification Requirements

• Rhode Island Dietitian/Nutritionist License (LDN) 

Position Requirements 

• American Dietetics Association Registration
• Driver's License & access to reliable transportation & access to reliable transportation: community-based travel required.

Management Responsibility: No

Time & Attendance Responsibility: No