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SalarySUMMARY: The Registered Dietitian (RD) is responsible for nutrition counseling for any patient identified as having nutritional risk factors, with a strong emphasis on patients with obesity and diabetes. The RD also serves as the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and manages a panel of patients within a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach to care.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Individual counseling sessions
- Performs initial assessments and follow-ups using the Nutrition form in Centricity, the center Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
- Provides a nutrition plan that sets goals that are individualized and attainable for the patient and are accompanied by educational handouts and/or tools.
- Provides patients with a copy of their goals so they can be working towards them.
- Demonstrates appropriate knowledge of specialty areas.
- Demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment in recommending treatments in consultation with the primary care provider.
- Assesses psychological needs of patients; makes referrals to counseling and psychiatry as appropriate.
- Assesses social needs of patients and refers to social services as appropriate.
- Assesses spiritual needs of patients; provides spiritual care, including sharing Christian faith, as appropriate.
- Practices cost-effective medicine with regard to tests and recommended treatments.
2. Group sessions
- Conducts group educational sessions on specific topics with patients and other organizations and/or instructors. Uses existing or creates new lesson plans and take-home handouts.
- Effectively communicates with and educates patients.
- Effectively explains to group participants his/her role as a dietitian.
3. Diabetes Care and Education
- Collaborates with primary care clinicians to provide additional education and support for patients with diabetes as part of “Diabetes Day” sessions
- Provides education on home monitoring or glucose using finger-stick and continuous glucose monitoring devices
- Provides instruction on insulin and GLP-1 injections
- Coordinates monthly group medical visits
- Follows patients titrating insulin and provides instruction for titration based on set protocol
- Population management and data tracking
- Monitors productivity and diabetes key measures to supervisors and others as assigned.
- Collaborates with the Medical department and others to integrate the use of Community Health Workers in diabetic patient care.
4. Community health promotion
- Promotes nutrition and healthy living at a health fair, community health promoter class, cooking demonstration, or community event. Prepares materials for these sessions.
5. Prenatal and breastfeeding nutrition education
- Coordinates with Esperanza’s obstetrics team to provide basic breastfeeding education and mother/child nutrition counseling for prenatal and post-partum patients.
6. Communication and continuing education
- Communicates with employees re: patient care, programs and procedures, as appropriate.
- Seeks supervision and input from physician supervisors, when needed.
- Responds quickly to urgent/emergent needs.
- Communicates appropriately with outside health professionals.
- Suggests improvements, and works to help implement practice improvements.
- Continues to learn informally and through formal educational channels.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES
- Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition or Dietetics from an accredited college or university. The approved practice experience or internship must also have been completed as required by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
- Registered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) at the time of hire or within 6 months of hire and receive state licensure of Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) once registration is established.
- Bilingual Spanish/English.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Good oral communication skills; ability to take initiative in communication, being clear and direct, in order to effectively communicate with other staff.
- Intermediate computer and Microsoft Office skills.
- Demonstrated ability to handle many details and multiple priorities. Must show ability to organize, process, and verify details.
- Must have a solid record of handling confidential information, as well as demonstrating trustworthiness and honesty in all transactions.
- Ability to integrate Christian faith with work.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Requires the ability to use computer, read fine print, and use electronic records.
- Requires the ability to carry or move up to 40 pounds and move with occasional stretching, reaching, stooping or kneeling.
