Clinical Dietitian

Summary:  An exempt position responsible for providing medical nutrition therapy to treat patients with various disease states within primary care clinics. The Clinical Dietitian will interact with the interdisciplinary team members and serve as a nutrition resource to the medical team at each practice site.
 

Full-time Position: Yes

Reports to:  Director, Clinical Services and Quality Improvement

Supervises: Yes; dietetic interns

Dress Requirement: Business Casual

Work Schedule:

Monday through Friday during standard business hours

Times are subject to change due to business necessity

 Exempt                        

Job Duties, these are considered essential to the successful performance of this position:

• Assesses patient’s medical history, including nutritional status, diet history, and food habits. Conducts individual or group sessions to discuss patient’s nutritional needs and determine risk factors.  Confers with physician and other clinicians as appropriate on effect of nutritional status.
• Develops nutritional plan for patient, presents information to patient/family including recommendations for special diets and diet techniques to ensure proper preparation and nutritional intake. 
• Documents assessments in patients’ electronic health record and bills insurance for services provided.
• Contacts insurance companies to determine coverage for dietary services such as Medical Nutrition Therapy and Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obesity as needed.
• Conducts patient education programs for weight reduction, cultural preferences, and special-need diets for certain health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Teaches correct food preparation and safe food handling. 
• Acts as liaison with food access and subsidy programs, including food insecurity screening as needed.
• Ensures high-quality nutritional educations are provided to patients consistent with current evidence-based practice. 
• Serves as a preceptor to assigned dietetic students.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives as needed.
• Regular and consistent attendance.
• Other duties as assigned

Facility Environment:
All facilities have a medical office environment with a front-desk reception area, separate patient examination rooms, pharmacy stock room, business offices, hallways and private toilet facilities.  All facilities are on the main ground floor and ADA compliant.

This position’s primary work area is the clinical portion of the facility; ie, patient examination rooms, hallways, and other clinically assigned areas.

 The clinical area is:

• kept at a normal working temperature
• sanitized daily
• maintains standard environment furniture with adjustable chairs
• maintains standard office equipment; ie, computer, copier, fax machine, etc. at a normal working height

Job Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
Education: Bachelor's degree in nutrition, food service, or community health.
Experience: One to three years of experience as dietitian. Experience in outpatient setting preferred.
Registration/Licensure: Registered dietitian as certified by the American Dietetic Association’s Commission on Dietetic Registration. Licensed dietitian in Ohio

 Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of theoretical and practical principles related to nutrition and dietetics.
2. Knowledge of medical terminology, universal precautions and food sanitation/safety procedures, and federal/state regulations related to food preparation, storage, etc.
3. Knowledge of ethnic eating patterns and cultural customs related to food.
4. Knowledge of education principles including human behavior and behavior modification techniques and presentation methods.

 Skills:

1. Skill in nutrition assessment.
2. Skill in problem-solving and handling crisis situations.
3. Skill in utilizing behavioral modification techniques to improve patient nutritional status.
4. Skill in developing and presenting patient/staff/community education workshops.

 Abilities:

1. Ability to read and follow written and oral medical orders.
2. Ability to analyze medical condition and make appropriate judgments about dietary issues.
3. Ability to work effectively in collaborative clinical and community situations.

Special Requirements:

• Subject to a criminal background check prior to employment
• TB clearance, to be renewed every year
• Annual and pre-employment physical