Weight Management Dietetic Specialist (Part-Time) - West

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Weight Management Dietetic Specialist position is an entry level to experienced clinician functioning at the requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), developing, and instructing weight loss, medical weight management, diabetes, and bariatric education classes in conjunction with dietitian team. This position is responsible for assessing the client's nutritional status using recognized tools of assessment, recommending nutrition plans via department Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) pathways/programs to clients, based on physical results, goals and concerns. The Weight Management Dietetic Specialist position will also plan and implement professional nutrition presentations as well as actively participate in planning, instruction and evaluation of the nutrition component of Houston Methodist Center for Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery programs and services and participates in departmental and quality improvement projects.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Utilizes skills and knowledge for training patients on all aspects of Diabetes Self-Management including teaching group diabetes classes and leading diabetes support groups.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles. Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leverages knowledge from specialty training to develop and instruct weight loss, medical weight management, diabetes, and bariatric education classes independently.

• Develops and implements customized nutrition plans via departmental Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) pathways/programs to clients, based on physical results, goals and concerns.

• Identifies and provides guidance for external nutrition resources upon assessment and evaluation of unique patient social determinants of health.

• Performs body composition assessments and interpreting results.

• Contributes towards improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Educates patients and team on nutrition information, while assessing effectiveness of nutrition education. Consistently evaluates the patient's/client's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.

• Updates guidelines, policies, procedures & standards of care services based upon outcomes and evidence-based medicine/research.

• Monitors and reassesses patients against the initial assessment and goals that are set with each patient. Recognizes complications/limitations associated with certain goals and proactively addresses such for optimum outcomes.

• Proactively identifies opportunities for corrective action and process improvement within the department. Contributes to meeting department targets for quality and safety measures.