Clinical Dietician, Population Health - UC Health

Job Description

A member of the multi-disciplinary health care team responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of optimal nutritional care and education of patients/clients in accordance with established standards of care.

Responsibilities

• Engages in population appropriate communication.
• Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks.
• Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment.
• Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient.
• Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary.
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems.
• Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately.
• Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms. Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely.
• Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.
• Utilize population specific physiological and developmental assessment criteria, assess nutritional needs of patients who have been screened and identified in need of medical nutrition therapy. Direct calculation and documentation of calorie counts/enteral and parenteral intake. Communicate assessment of nutrition status to other health care providers via documentation in patient's medical record and participation in interdisciplinary patient care rounds.
• Considering age specific physiological and developmental needs and cultural socioeconomic issues develop plan of care to achieve desired outcomes; monitor and reassess in accordance with established standards of care to evaluate outcomes and revise plan of care as needed to improve outcomes. Communicate nutrition needs and care issues to other health care providers via documentation in patient's medical record and via participation in interdisciplinary patient care rounds.
• Supervise/participate in menu revisions, record keeping activities, supplement implementation and acceptance/food quality/acceptance and adequacy. Direct communication of pertinent information through appropriate modes (i.e. computers, telephone, etc.)
• Educate patients, family and/or significant others in normal and therapeutic nutrition and drug nutrient interactions based on assessment of individual learning needs (cognitive/emotional relative to age; cultural, and spiritual); develop education materials to be utilized in patient education. Communicate patient education issues to other health care providers via appropriate documentation in patient's medical record and participation in interdisciplinary patient care rounds.
• Provide supervised learning experiences for dietetic interns when appropriate, provide inservices to other health care providers in nutrition/service issues pertinent to patient care; develop and provide education to the community.
• Maintain high level of competency and professional development through appropriate journals, books, websites/list servers and attendance of seminars, workshops and meetings/conferences. Participate in competency assessment process and self-evaluation to establish professional goals and development plan emphasizing area of specialization as appropriate.
• Participate in interdepartmental and intradepartmental performance improvement activities related to patient care and service. Participate in research protocols and development of clinical pathways in assigned area(s) of responsibility.

Qualifications

Minimum Required: Bachelors Degree AND Dietetic Internship

Registered Dietitian and License Dietitian

Minimum Required: Recently certified, licensed or graduates within past 12 months.

0 - 6 Months equivalent experience. Preferred: 1 - 2 Years equivalent experience.