JOB TITLE: CLINICAL DIETITIAN

JOB CODE: 81430

DEFINITION: This is professional clinical dietetic work providing medical nutrition therapy and food and nutrition expertise at a Commonwealth facility.

An employee in this job plans, coordinates, and implements a nutritional care program for individuals in a Commonwealth facility. Work involves completing assessments, care plans, and menu development to ensure food and nutrition services are meeting nutritional and dietary needs and standards; ensuring optimal nutritional status for each person using the Nutrition Care Process; preparing and modifying menu plans and nutritional care plans in accordance with physicians' orders and with standards of nutrition, variety, and quality, including those for individuals on prescribed diets; developing clinical dietary policies in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team; and ensuring adherence with federal, state, and local regulations. Work is performed with a high degree of independence and initiative and is reviewed by a Clinical Dietitian Manager or Director of Dietetic Services through conferences, reports, and evaluation of overall effectiveness.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Organizes and implements a nutritional care program including nutritional assessments, discharge summaries, diet counseling, chart entries, treatment team participation, and nutritional education programs at a state hospital or center, veterans’ home, or other Commonwealth facility.

• Coordinates with food service management to fulfill resident nutritional needs regarding preferences, texture, and general acceptability of therapeutic menus and to plan therapeutic diet requirements.

• Conducts nutritional assessments, audits, discharge summaries, nutrition education and documentation, and nutritional counseling.

• Writes nutrition care plans, policies, procedures, therapeutic and modified diets, and menus; and develops recipes.

• Uses the Nutrition Care Process steps of assessment and reassessment, nutrition diagnosis, intervention, monitoring, and evaluation to discern the best nutritional care for an individual.

• Provides evidence-based nutrition counseling and training to meet clinical needs and promote disease management.

• Recommends specialized food and nutritional products to be purchased by the facility for the therapeutic use of disease management.

• Completes initial, annual, and significant change nutritional assessments.

• Completes Minimum Data Set documentation and care plans for individuals upon admission, quarterly, and as needed in accordance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ guidelines.

• Writes nutritional care plans and makes dietetic recommendations consistent with providers’ orders and dietetic needs.

• Monitors the nutritional status of individuals under facility care.

• Attends and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings to communicate findings and make care plan recommendations.

• Provides training and education regarding healthy eating habits and nutrition.

• Advises individuals under care on behavior modification and intervention plans, including foods appropriate for their therapeutic diet to improve their health.

• Conducts periodic meetings with individuals under care and their family members to determine food preferences and to determine their level of satisfaction with food service.

• Provides nutrition education training for food service staff and facility employees.

• Conducts dietary quality assurance audits and reports findings.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of medical nutrition therapy and the Nutrition Care Process.

• Knowledge of food service safety and sanitation standards.

• Knowledge of food service tasks.

• Knowledge of the methods, materials, and equipment used in food preparation.

• Knowledge of the care and use of food service equipment.

• Knowledge of meal service procedures and regulatory guidelines.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to read and interpret written information.

• Ability to read and interpret numerical information.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Certain positions require active authorization to practice as a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) in Pennsylvania.

• All positions in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs require active certification as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) as issued by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

• All positions in the Department of Human Services require active certification as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) as issued by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, or proof of eligibility for such certification.