Job Description

General Summary of Position
The Clinical Dietitian is responsible for collecting pertinent information development of appropriate care plans monitoring the status of patients counseling patient and family on special nutritional requirements consulting with other health personnel (physician nurse pharmacist case manger therapist etc.) as appropriate.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts assessment for patients to establish diet and food guidelines.
• Review patient medical orders.
• Develop and implement an individualized plan for medical nutrition therapy in accordance with patient's medical problems goals and objectives.
• Provide therapeutic plan for specialized nutrition support including enteral and parenteral.
• Works cooperatively with the Food Service staff to assure conformance to diet prescriptions.
• Calculates nutritional requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food/drug interactions.
• Completes nutritional assessment and participates in the interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments.
• Responsible for developing or obtaining patient nutrition educations materials.
• Assesses patient's knowledge of diet and provide education appropriate to patient's learning needs regarding the relationship of diet and the impact on the treatment process.
• Monitors adherence and response to nutrition therapy adjust therapy as needed to achieve and sustain an effective nutritional status.
• Plan menus to meet the patients' symptomatic and nutritional needs which support the palliative treatment of patients.
• Document nutritional care plans and patient response in patient's medical record including nutritional assessment medical nutrition diagnosis recommendations and the plan of care.
• Serve as nutritional care resource for medical and nursing care
• Directs clinical supportive staff to ensure productivity and work flow.
• Participates in pertinent staff and committee meetings(Performance Improvement Nutrition Care Committee and Infection Control)
• Conduct rounds to check inconsistencies or patients with potential nutritional problems.
• Provides patient with ongoing nutrition assessment and outcome-oriented nutrition counseling necessary to assist patient in achieving and sustaining an effective nutritional status.
• Communicates and coordinate with physician and other health care personnel as needed on the nutritional care of the patients.
• Evaluate food served for conformance to quality standards and dietary prescriptions.
• Other duties as assigned including but not limited to orientation of newly hired staff and performing tray line procedures.

Minimal Qualifications
Education

• Bachelor's degree in dietetics nutrition required or
• equivalent required

Experience

• 1-2 years Experience in a healthcare setting required

Licenses and Certifications

• Current state licensure/registration required and
• Active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics required and
• CNSD - Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian Active registration through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) preferred

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to comprehend and follow the policies and procedures for MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.
• Ability to read write and speak or communicate in English to successfully accomplish the essential duties of the position.
• Ability to demonstrate ethical behavior that supports the hospital's mission values and commitment to compliance with all federal state and regulatory laws. Inspires trust and exhibits honesty and integrity within the scope of daily activities.
• Exhibits professionalism courtesy and excellent customer service while interacting with patients guests and co-workers.
• Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain accurate patient records.
• Knowledge of Enteral /Tube feeds and substitutes

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