The Registered Dietitian works closely with the interdisciplinary health care team to provide specialized medical nutrition therapy to patients by using evidenced-based standards of care and practice protocols/guidelines; assuring customer needs and satisfaction are met and/or exceeded; participating in performance improvement efforts; managing resources in a cost-effective manner; and maintaining professional competency and skills required for professional practice.
Accountabilities
Conducts a nutrition assessment for patients within required time frames. This includes screening for malnutrition formulating a nutrition diagnosis based on collected data while utilizing evidence-based standards and collaborating with the multidisciplinary team.
Develops and implements nutrition interventions in accordance with the patients medical program goals and objectives nutrition description and self-management training. May require development of therapeutic plan for specialized nutrition support including enteral and parenteral nutrition.
Reviews/approves therapeutic diets to ensure compliance with all state and federal guidelines.
Provides appropriate follow-up in accordance with the patients treatment goals referring patients for outpatient counseling community resources or home services as appropriate.
Assesses and evaluates techniques that consider the varied needs of age-specific populations as well as cultural religious and ethnic concerns.
Provides appropriate documentation that summarizes the nutrition care plan in the patients medical record including nutrition assessment diagnosis plan/goals implementation and progress toward goals.
Participates in multidisciplinary patient care conference and discharge planning activities as appropriate to develop and implement patient care plans and assess patient outcomes with other disciplines and extended care facilities as applicable to ensure continuity of care.
Prepares Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QAPI) reports and participates in monthly QAPI meetings with other disciplines including MDs Social Workers and RNs.
Conducts in-services and educational presentations to hospital/department staff.
Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities as required by CHP state and federal guidelines.
Participates in the orientation and training of new dietitians and functions as a preceptor to dietetic students and interns. Plans learning experiences teaches and evaluates performance of students and interns.
Participates in the development of treatment guidelines and nutrition policies related to nutritional assessment and identification of nutritional risks of patients and treatment protocols for nutritional services for patients with diseases or related conditions. Participates in committee meetings when nutrition therapy guidelines are implemented/renewed according to schedule.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Renal Dialysis
Educates patients and their families/caregivers on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis regarding diet and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); provides ongoing nutrition counseling to achieve optimal outcomes; reviews monthly lab work on an individual basis and intervenes as appropriate in collaboration with the Nephrologist or other rounding provider(s); actively participates in osteodystrophy management including provision of recommendations for vitamin D phosphate binder and calcimimetic therapies.