Registered Dietitian

Description

Job Summary

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist provides health education to UCHC patients in various settings such as individual consult, group meetings, and telephone contact. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the Nutrition and Health Education component of UCHC health care services to patients. The Registered Dietitian is part of an interdisciplinary team that includes the Medical Provider, Medical Assistant, Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dentist, and Quality Improvement Staff.  

Duties and responsibilities

• Provide Medical Nutrition Therapy and nutritional screening for UCHC patients at any time during the patient’s health care continuum.
• Conduct assessment of patient’s nutritional risk status utilizing patient medical diagnosis and Provider orders, patient medical history/lab data, social determinants of health, and other clinical information relating to patient care.
• Determine nutritional diagnosis and develop individualized intervention and care plan.
• Provide long-term monitoring and evaluation of patient nutritional status and health goals.
• Schedule and conduct follow-up visits based on the acuity of illness, medical diagnosis, and patient need per assessment and care team input.
• Confer with, serve as a resource for, and communicate with Providers and clinic staff, the patient(s), and the patient’s family/pertinent persons regarding the patient plan of care and critical information as appropriate.
• Ensure continuity of care for UCHC patients between internal UCHC Health services, programs, and providers while providing precise, and timely communication.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex patient cases, work-Aflow, and processes related to operations and the Integrated Care Model.
• Provide discipline-specific input for the development, approval, implementation, and annual revisions of Nutrition and Health Education protocols and serve as a discipline-specific expert consultant to UCHC staff/providers as assigned.
• Ensure correct and timely documentation and billing in the patient’s medical record, utilize appropriate organizational electronic communications systems, and communicate by other suitable means on patient care plan.
• Collaborate with and refer patients to external services, programs, agencies, and Providers as needed.
• Assist in program assessment, development, and implementation of new programs/protocols/trainings based on department and UCHC needs.
• Assist and/or leads in developing/revising, implementing, and promoting Nutrition and Health Education related educational materials, curricula, policies, procedures, protocols, templates, and marketing materials; organize and stock materials as necessary.
• Participate in new staff/student/intern competence and performance development and participate in community outreach events and community education as needed.
• Assume responsibility for ongoing professional development and continuing education by reviewing literature and professional journals, attending conferences/programs to update knowledge and skills, and continually seeking to improve and maintain professional competence.
• Seek out additional learning as the organization, department, and technology evolves/changes and accommodates patient needs.
• Participate in and attend all meetings as requested, including but not limited to department staff meetings, provider meetings/trainings, and program quality improvement (QI) subcommittees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field required; Masters in Nutritional Science, Public Health, Health Education, or related field preferred.
• Currently registered as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as defined by the California Business and Professional Code
• 1-5 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in an outpatient education department/health center teaching patients in individual and group settings.
• Must certify and remain current in CPR.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; Bilingual (English/Spanish) 
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills are required.
• Experience providing MNT and individual counseling.
• Experience with working at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), including working with underserved, uninsured, and minority populations.
• Experience with teaching and modeling self-management skills, concepts, resources, and tools related to health, lifestyle change, and behavior modification preferred.
• Experienc