Dietitian Hospital Healthcare - La Grange - Wellstar Health System

Description

A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.

We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

Work Shift
Practices as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team responsible for the provision of medical nutrition therapy.

Fosters continuity of the Nutrition Care Process across all phases of the continuum of care as recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Performs nutrition assessment for patients identified to be at nutrition risk based on criteria outlined by the hospital and best practice standards.

Performs nutrition focused physical exam to further evaluate risk of malnutrition as indicated. Develops a nutrition diagnosis as appropriate and consistent with the Nutrition Care Process. Creates and implements a nutrition intervention and care plan for all patients with a nutrition diagnosis. Continuously evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of medical nutrition therapy intervention.

Provides nutrition education to patients, family, and/or members of the health care team on recommended nutrition intervention(s) to accomplish nutrition goals; which may include, but is not limited to any of the following topics:
specialized diet, enteral/oral medical nutrition supplements, food selections, eating behaviors, and community nutrition resources. Manages the delivery of nutrition care services according to the site of care assigned. Participates in performance improvement and research activities. Provide medical nutrition therapy according to system policy and A.Nutrition Care Process practice
Utilizes the Nutrition Care Process and WellStar Nutrition Care Policies when assessing patients
Responsible for nutrition screen, assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring/evaluation of identified at risk patients
Apply psycho-social, age appropriate, evidence-based nutrition care
Document all patient encounters in the health care record in accordance with hospital and department policies and procedures
Identify, monitor, and evaluate enteral nutrition support regimens. Manage enteral nutrition support under the supervision of medical staff
Perform Nutrition Focused Physical Exams to evaluate malnutrition severity as appropriate
Assess patients learning needs, barriers to learning, preferred learning styles and educational level and provides nutrition education accordingly
Utilizes community resources through the continuum of care to foster positive patient outcomes
Develops, implements, and promotes quality services based on client expectation and needs.
Collaborates with patient and/or family member, and health care team to assess nutrition and education needs of patients.
Applies knowledge and skills in developing, implementing and maintaining nutrition care plans
Continuously evaluates nutrition care processes and patient outcomes and implements quality practice by following system policies, procedures, and evidenced based research
Provides care according to organizational ethics, licensure and Standards of Professional Practice for Dietetics Professionals
Applies Joint Commission and/or regulatory standards in the provision of nutrition care

Locates, reviews, and utilizes best practice research findings for their application in optimally managing a disease or condition and improving patient outcomes.

Bases clinical practice on sound scientific principles, current research and theory
Communicates sound scientific principles, research, and theory to health care team members and dietetic interns in optimally managing patients' care
Shares knowledge and expertise with dietetic interns, patients, family members and health care team members
Documents understanding of relevant information and results of communication with dietetic interns/technicians/patients/families and healthcare team members
Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of practice and revises practice as needed to incorporate results of evaluation.
Participates in and identifies performance improvement criteria for nutrition care by completing peer chart audits as assigned and reviewing with their nutrition leader
Participates in quality improvement initiatives and projects
Documents professional development activities according to system policies
Engage in continuous learning opportunities to further develop skills and capabilities in application technical and functional areas
Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution with a major in nutrition/dietetics.
Completion of a supervised practice didactic program accredited by the Accreditation Counsel for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
LD - Lic Dietician
RD - Registered Dietician
Experience with electronic medical record charting systems and other software relative to food service systems. Excellent interpersonal, customer service, verbal and written communication skills.
Knowledge of best practices in clinical nutrition and the dietetics profession.
Knowledge of Nutrition Care Process and its use in complex cases in the clinical setting.

Ability to think critically to apply nutrition interventions to patients with multiple comorbidities and/or special needs including management of enteral nutrition provisions.

Ability to maintain effective relationships with other healthcare professionals in sharing nutrition knowledge and expertise.