Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Rotating Shift

Description:

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to facilitate the continuum of care and education of patients with diabetes.  Responsible for conducting individual and group patient education in the St. Joseph Mercy Health System Center for Diabetes in line with American Diabetes Association and Michigan Department of Community Health standards and guidelines.  Meets with patients and patients’ support members in order to assess diabetes related knowledge, self care habits and nutritional status.  Provides Medical Nutrition Therapy for individuals with diabetes.  Consults with nurses, physicians and others as necessary in order to resolve problems with patient’s overall diabetes care including meal planning.  Care for patients with other nutritional needs may be required as needed.  Additional outreach education duties at community sites may be required upon request.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assesses nutritional status of patients with diabetes based on input from referring physician, medical record, lab results, blood glucose monitoring trends, various clinical assessment methodologies, and patient consultation.

Assesses diabetes knowledge and self care behaviors of patients with diabetes and their support members. Evaluates patients’ skills in self-care, ability/readiness to learn, and resource utilization.  Collaborates with other members of the interdisciplinary team in gathering data relevant to the patient’s health status.

Collaborates with the patient and the interdisciplinary health care team in developing a patient-centered plan of care.  Examines the various treatment options available for implementing the plan of care. 

Designs an individualized care plan that is congruent with the preferences, needs, age, educational level, culture, lifestyle, financial resources, physiological status, psychosocial readiness and desired clinical outcomes of the patient.

Conducts education interventions in a variety of formats and settings that may include:

• Individual sessions
• Group classes
• Ambulatory care
• Community

Provides Medical Nutrition Therapy as well as other diabetes related interventions to individuals or groups in a manner that reflects:

• current knowledge and research relative to diabetes pathophysiology, treatment, education and behavior change principles
• Application of adult learning and behavior change principles
• Congruence with the standards of care as defined by the parent institution or external accrediting bodies
• Effective utilization of human and material resources
• Attentiveness to age and developmental level, learning needs, readiness to change, cognitive and psychomotor capabilities, and spiritual and cultural implications of the patient.

Provides Medical Nutrition Therapy and educates client and support members on the content and strategies to operationalize nutrition and diabetes goals and assimilate them into long-term behavior changes.  Mentors patient and support members in the development and application of clinical problem solving skills.

Ensures continuity of care by communicating with patient’s health care providers regarding patient needs and ongoing status of care plan. Develops excellent relationships with providers. Communicates patient assessments, care plans, concerns, recommendations, and patient outcomes in a timely and effective manner.

Identifies need for and initiates referrals to other members of the interdisciplinary team as appropriate.

Continuously monitors patient adherence to care plan goals and outcome measures.  Modifies care plan as needed to maximize patient progress toward goals.

Interprets blood glucose monitoring results and recommends adjustment in food, activity or medication as needed.

Participates with the interdisciplinary team in selecting appropriate candidates for intensive insulin therapy.  Works with the patient in developing and adjusting insulin dosing algorithms.

Ensures correct and timely documentation following a patient visit, consultation and referral activity in compliance with departmental policy and standards of regulatory bodies.

Seeks opportunities for expanding clinical knowledge and professional expertise, enhancing role performance and increasing knowledge of professional issues or initiatives.  Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field of diabetes and nutrition by reading appropriate books, journals, and other literature, and pursuing continuing education opportunities.

Participates in departmental goal-setting, program an