DIETITIAN - Matter of Care Home Health Services : Job Details

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE:

The Regional Home Care Dietitian will oversee and support the delivery of high-quality Clinical Nutrition services to patients in various settings, such as, but not limited to clinics, home health, or outpatient services, under the direction of the Senior Nutrition Manager.

This role involves the provision of Clinical Nutrition services across multiple locations within a geographic region.

In addition, this role will have a significant involvement in auditing and quality reviews. The regional Home Care Dietitian will be responsible for making recommendations to the Regional Rehabilitation Manager and Director of Rehabilitation regarding service delivery and documentation of services.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Participant Care

• Performs initial face-to-face assessments and evaluates the nutritional status of individual participants utilizing nutritional guidelines, professional knowledge, and interviewing skills to provide quality care. Performs reassessment as required.
• Evaluates participants' physical condition and calculates therapeutic diets to meet the specific requirements of individual patients.
• Provides clinical recommendations and creates orders to reflect the individualized needs of each participant, under the approval of the Primary Care Physician/Nurse Practitioner.
• Establishes nutritional plans based on assessment of participant's condition. Monitors participant's progress and recommends revision of plan as needed
• Documents changes in the participant's condition and details care provided by completing all required documentation.
• Coordinates with other members of the interdisciplinary team to ensure that the comprehensive plan of care is followed and revised as needed.
• Provides nutrition counseling to participants and/or caregivers utilizing educational materials, modified diets, and teaching aids to ensure participants' understanding of the overall plan of care and its implications.
• Acts as a liaison with other community agencies to gather and disseminate information on nutrition trends and changes.
• Travels to participants' homes and/or other facilities with varying environments (e.g., elevated buildings, walk-ups, care facilitates, single/multiple family homes, presence of pets, etc.) using approved transportation options to deliver direct care to the participant.
• Evaluates the need for home-delivered meals and maintain an up-to-date working file of current participants.
• Evaluates the need for nutritional supplements. Instruct participants/ caregivers/ family members and other staff members in proper use.
• Education of staff members will include but is not limited to providing in-service training as needed and evaluating and documenting the competency of staff where appropriate.
• Works with Nutrition Services Team and center staff to create activities, diet groups, programs, cooking demos, and educational activities.
• Only act within the scope of the individual's authority to practice.
• Meet a standardized set of competencies for the specific position description established by the PACE organization before working independently.

Compliance and Quality Assurance:

• Assist Senior Nutrition Manager in ensuring that all Nutrition services comply with state and federal regulations, accreditation standards, and company policies.
• Assist Senior Nutrition Manager in monitoring and reviewing patient records, documentation, and progress reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and audits to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Maintain up-to-date records and documentation, ensuring compliance with healthcare standards.
• Assist in scheduling and coordinating of assessments and other Nutrition follow up.
• Participate in administrative and Inter Disciplinary Team meetings and provide reports on team performance, patient outcomes, and operational needs.
• Included but not limited to: Morning Report, Service Determination Requests, Root Cause Analysis Meetings, Transfer Meetings, and Care Planning

Other duties as assigned

• Will provide supervision of nutrition services in clinic and field as necessary
• Will provide orientation and clinical guidance to new team members as needed

Weekly hours: 40

Schedule: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited Dietetics program.

Experience:

• A minimum of One (1+) year of experience in clinical nutrition is preferred.
• Minimum of One (1+) year of experience working with a frail or elderly population preferred.
• PACE or Home Care experience, preferred.

License:

• Current registration to practice as a Registered Dietitian through the Commission on Dietetic Registration – Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
• New York State license: Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (CDN).

Additional Requirements:

• Adaptability, flexibility, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations.
• Ability to use basic office computer programs to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, participants, customers, and the general public.
• Be legally authorized (for example, currently licensed, registered, or certified if applicable) to practice in the State in which the healthcare professional will perform the function.
• Be medically cleared for communicable diseases and have all immunizations up-to-date before engaging in direct participant contact.

Physical Requirements

Individuals must be able to sustain certain physical requirements essential to the job. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Standing – Duration of up to 6 hours a day.
• Sitting/Stationary positions – Sedentary position in duration of up to 6-8 hours a day for consecutive hours/periods.
• Lifting/Push/Pull – Up to 50 pounds of equipment, baggage, supplies, and ability to lift patients safely and using OSHA guidelines, etc.
• Bending/Squatting – Must be able to safely bend or squat to care for patients, use medical supplies, etc.
• Stairs/Steps/Walking/Climbing – Must be able to safely maneuver stairs, climb up/down, and walk to access work areas Position requires the individual to be able to travel, and walk between sites/locations and work areas throughout the day.
• Agility/Fine Motor Skills
  • Must demonstrate agility and fine motor skills to operate and activate equipment, devices, instruments, and tools (ie. typing, use of medical supplies, equipment, etc.)
• Sight/Visual Requirements – Must be able to visually assess patients, read orders type/write documentation, etc. with accuracy.
• Audio Hearing and Motor Skills (language) Requirements – Must be able to listen attentively and document information from patients, community members, providers, etc., and intake information through audio processing with accuracy. In addition, must be able to speak comfortably and clearly with language motor skills for customers to understand the individual.
• Cognitive Ability – Must be able to demonstrate good decision-making, reasonableness, cognitive ability, rational processing, and analysis to satisfy essential functions of the job.

Disclaimer: Responsibilities and tasks outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the company.