Diet Clerk

General Summary of Position
Under the direct supervision of the Clinical Dietician, the dietary clerk performs essential clerical duties associated with the nutritional care and food service to all patients. The dietary clerk is responsible to ensure that each patient receives a menu and that all menus are checked and edited according to the prescribed diet. The dietary clerk assists the patients with their menu selections, makes meal rounds, distributes the Patient Satisfaction Surveys, updates nourishment cardex daily, monitors for food and drug interaction, maintains daily food/tray count, tracks daily supplemental feedings, processes charges for accounting department, prepares tally sheets, obtains food preferences from patients and/or family members, etc. The dietary clerk serves as
liaison between the patients, nursing, and the Food and Nutrition Services Department promoting effective relationships. The dietary clerk knows and utilizes effective oral and written communication skills in dietetic operations.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Keeps the patient cardex current, recording diet and/or food changes, preferences, allergies as necessary.Monitors flow of patient menus and prepares them for summarizing. Writes modified diets as assigned.Edits and checks menus prior to each meal, making additions and/or changes as needed, orders food from production unit accordingly. Answers the telephone in a courteous and professional manner, taking messages and relaying the information as needed, timely and accurately.Keeps the telephone log current by recording incoming calls. Makes rounds - meal and routine - picking up menus, diet requests, and diet changes as needed. 8. Visits patients and assists them with the menu selections.Tracks daily supplemental feeding charges to be submitted to accounting department.Maintains daily meal count current to be submitted along with the monthly statistical report. Responsible for distributing the patient satisfaction surveys every day, assisting the patients with filling out the surveys if needed.Update the nourishment cardex daily and in a timely manner, assuring that the 10:00am, 2:00pm, and 8:00pm snacks are recorded accurately and given to the production aide for preparation and distribution. Daily records all food preferences and any patient information from the dietary preferences sheets onto the patient cardex and patient menus.Updates menus targeted for Food and Drug Protocol by stamping patient cardex card. Modifies diets appropriately to include Food and Drug interactions.Works on patient tray line, cafeteria line, and any other station as required due to staffing conditions. Required to work holidays, weekends, and rotating schedules.Must maintain a clean, professional appearance at all times when visiting patients. Must follow hospital's patient confidentiality policy.Understands, follows, and enforces all the departmental policies and procedures. Maintains a quiet, conducive, and professional atmosphere for transcribing all dietary information while in the diet office.Must follow all the policies on patient visitation. Responsible for making sure all patient needs are met.Tallies all menus and completes the production sheets for the next day's production. Works closely with the Dietitians.Is knowledgeable of all diets. Works well with others, i.e., nurses, co-workers, supervisors, director, and others in authority in a positive manner.Needs no reminders; rotates shifts as required; consistently strives to be a productive member of the team; maintains good attendance and a professional appearance. Must follow hospital's patient confidentiality policy.

Minimum Qualifications
Education

• High School Diploma or GED preferred

Experience

• Acute care experience is preferable with a good background in nutrition. preferred and
• 1-2 years Experience as a dietary clerk in long term care and/or acute care setting required and
• Prior experience working in an office as a dietary clerk, knowledgeable in multiple specific patient diets. required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to comprehend and follow the Southern Maryland Hospital Center Employee Handbook.
• Ability to comprehend and follow the policies and procedures for Southern Maryland Hospital Center.
• Ability to read, write and speak or communicate in English to successfully accomplish the essential duties of the position.
• Ability to demonstrate ethical behavior that supports the hospital's mission, values and commitment to compliance with all federal, state and regulatory laws. Inspires trust and exhibits honesty and integrity within the scope of daily activities.
• Exhibits professionalism, courtesy and excellent customer service, while interacting with patients, guests and co-workers.
• Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
• Ability to work the various shift schedules assigned to include holidays, weekends, and rotating shifts.
• Knowledge and ability to follow and maintain the sanitation standards in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Knowledge, skill and ability to utilize the following equipment; dish washing machine, blender, hot steam tables, refrigerators, hot and cold holding units, and various utensils.
• Ability to attend all required safety training programs and can describe responsibilities related to general safety, department safety, and specific job-related hazards.
• Ability to present professional, neat, clean, and appropriate attire for the work environment.
• Ability to report to work on time and meet acceptable standards of attendance.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior that supports the hospital's mission, values, and commitment to compliance with all Federal, State, and regulatory laws; inspires trust and exhibits honesty and integrity within the scope of daily activities.
• Exhibits professionalism, courtesy and excellent customer relations skills, while interacting with patients, guests, and co-workers.

This position has a hiring range of $17.5 - $27.23

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