Registered Dietitian / Certified Diabetes Care And Education Specialist (Cdces)

SUMMARY:

The Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is responsible for providing comprehensive nutrition assessment, medical nutrition therapy (MNT), diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES), and lifestyle counseling to individuals with diabetes, prediabetes, and other chronic health conditions in a primary care setting. This position collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient self-management skills, and promote overall health and wellness.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medical Nutrition Therapy & Nutrition Assessment

• Perform comprehensive nutrition assessments, including dietary intake, nutrition-related laboratory values, medical history, medications, anthropometrics, lifestyle factors, food access, and readiness for behavioral change.
• Develop individualized nutrition diagnoses, interventions, goals, and monitoring plans.
• Provide evidence-based medical nutrition therapy for a broad range of medical conditions.
• Monitor patient progress and modify nutrition care plans based on clinical status, laboratory results, treatment goals, and patient preferences.
• Document nutrition assessments, interventions, education, and follow-up in the electronic medical record.
• Communicate relevant nutrition findings and recommendations to the primary care team.
• Coordinate nutrition care with other healthcare professionals when patients have complex or multifactorial needs.

Diabetes Education and Management

• Provide comprehensive diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) for patients with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and other forms of diabetes.
• Provide individual education related to nutrition, carbohydrate management, glucose monitoring, physical activity, medication adherence, and prevention of diabetes complications.
• Support patients using insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), smart insulin pens, and other diabetes technologies within the individual’s scope of practice and clinic protocols.
• Assist patients with interpretation of glucose patterns and development of appropriate lifestyle and nutrition strategies.
• Provide education regarding hypoglycemia prevention and treatment, sick-day management, and diabetes-related nutrition concerns.
• Collaborate with providers and the diabetes care team regarding medication, insulin, and nutrition-related concerns.
• Participate in development and implementation of diabetes quality-improvement initiatives.

Care Coordination

• Serve as a nutrition resource for the entire primary care team.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences, huddles, and care-management activities as appropriate.
• Accept referrals from physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other qualified members of the care team according to clinic policy.
• Identify patients who may benefit from nutrition intervention through population-health initiatives, disease registries, laboratory results, or other clinical indicators.
• Develop and participate in nutrition-focused quality-improvement initiatives.
• Assist the clinic in meeting diabetes, cardiovascular, obesity, and other chronic disease quality measures.
• Provide nutrition education resources and clinical support to nursing and other clinical staff.
• Establish appropriate referral pathways with specialty providers and community resources.

Patient Education and Population Health

• Assist with development and maintenance of patient-friendly education materials and resources.
• Promote preventive health, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and reduction of chronic disease risk.
• Use motivational interviewing and behavior-change strategies to support sustainable lifestyle changes.
• Maintain documentation in accordance with organizational policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and proactively manage patients with diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk factors.
• Assist providers in achieving quality metrics related to diabetes control, preventive screenings, and chronic disease management.
• Review patient registries and outreach lists to improve follow-up compliance and health outcomes.
• Assist with value-based care initiatives.

Documentation and Compliance

• Document patient encounters accurately and timely within the electronic health record (EHR).
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA, CMS, ADA, AADE/ADCES, and organizational standards.
• Ensure patient education and care plans meet applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, or related field from an accredited institution.
• Current Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN/RD) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Current Wisconsin dietitian certification or licensure as required by state regulations.
• Current Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential in good standing.
• Current CPR certification preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical nutrition and diabetes education experience preferred.
• Knowledge of diabetes technologies including CGM systems and insulin pumps.
• Strong communication, patient education, and counseling skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in outpatient diabetes education, endocrinology, primary care, or population health.
• Experience with quality improvement and outcome measurement.
• Experience working with diverse patient populations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of diabetes management and medical nutrition therapy.
• Ability to interpret clinical, laboratory, and medication-related information.
• Proficiency in motivational interviewing and behavior change techniques.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications; EPIC preferred.

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• Maintain all continuing professional education requirements necessary to retain RDN/RD credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Maintain all continuing education and practice requirements necessary to retain CDCES certification through the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE).
• Complete required continuing education related to diabetes management, nutrition therapy, behavioral counseling, lifestyle medicine, chronic disease prevention, and emerging diabetes technologies.
• Remain current on evidence-based guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and other relevant professional organizations.
• Participate in clinic-sponsored education, quality improvement initiatives, and interdisciplinary team training.
• Attend professional conferences, webinars, and educational programs as approved by clinic leadership to support ongoing professional growth and program development.
• Maintain competency in diabetes technologies including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pump therapy, connected health devices, and telehealth delivery of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES).
• Demonstrate ongoing competency through annual performance evaluations, clinical outcome reviews, peer collaboration, and participation in quality improvement activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, talk or hear.
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Specialized equipment, machines, or vehicles used: copy, fax, scan, print, etc. 

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.