Dietitian

Summary

The VA Hudson Valley Health Care System offers a full range of acute and chronic care services for veterans at two main facilities located at Montrose and Castle Point, New York, in addition to seven VA clinics in six adjacent counties, serving over 400,000 veterans.

Duties

Informatics Dietitian is the subject matter expert responsible for Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) computer systems and serve as staff dietitians. This position manages VHA supported software programs and/or Commercial off the Shelf Systems (COTS) that focus on Nutrition and Food Services to include food production & food service operations; training and education of computer systems; collection and analysis of data, such as customer experience surveys, nutrient analysis, staffing and workload statistics. The Informatics Dietitian is responsible for solicitation, evaluation and recommendation of COTS software, integration, training and alignment of technology functions throughout the section.

Food Service and Production:
Participates in the selection, implementation and evaluation of automated nutrition systems. Provides system support to include testing, maintenance, enhancements and problem solving.- Oversees automated information systems to support effective management of food operations and patient meal services. Monitors COTS purchased programs to ensure tracking of items, room service, full functionality and budget control.- Manage the technology for meal production, service, labeling, temperature control and satisfaction. Coordinate the selection, installation, training, use and reporting structure for the full range of technology used in the administrative section of the service.- Maintains/updates data base on nutritive analysis of food items served. Performs nutritional analysis of regular and modified menus.- Maintains and updates recipes and menu databases with adequate nutritional analysis data, food unit package size, pricing and other data updates.- Recommends automated and manual solutions to enhance system and departmental functionality.- Manages department databases/registries and productivity reports for the nutrition communication center.- Maintains and revises COTS and VISTA Databases, as well as any other NFS ordering programs for ingredients, recipes and menus as needed or required by changes necessitated by SPV product changes. Assures privacy issues are addressed with all systems.- Inputs data for regular and modified diet menus and special events taking into consideration factors such as nutritional requirements, patient satisfaction, budget allocation, available manpower, and equipment limitations.- Ensures that all recipes are standardized and costed.- Inputs new products with purchasing information, nutrition analysis data and therapeutic diet usage. Reviews new products for acceptability.

Education:
Oversees all aspects of NFS training program related to menus and informatics. Train's personnel in various computer applications and security issues regarding the VISTA dietetic software package.- Remains current on trend and technological/technical developments in the field of nutrition informatics and dietetics through continuing education programs and training opportunities.- Provides training for new employees as related to policies and procedures related to informatics and menus. Updates training materials to reflect changes or upgrades to the system and provide education to staff.- Directs and train dietetic interns, with direct precepting as informatics dietitian.- Coordinates and conducts education and end-user training programs to assure systems are used as designed.

Quality:
Participates in project teams associated with the development and implementation of food service systems.- Works with professionals/vendors in tailoring software to meet the needs of the service and to trouble shoot system issues.- Identifies opportunities for COTS program for cost savings, operational effectiveness and patient satisfaction.- Maintains and implements information security for all data files. Collaborates with OIT for mandated updates and downtimes within facility as well as VISN.- Participates in organizational activities related to developing and managing other healthcare related technologies to ensure that nutritional care and nutrition standardized language concepts are an integral part of the system.- Provides system support to include system testing, maintenance, enhancements and problem solving.- Responds to system failure notifications on an on- call basis.- Participates in Performance Improvement and QPI, to assure integrity of system.- Collaborates with COR for contracting to assure all systems are protected for privacy issues with contracted informatics programs. Works along with COR for annual nutrition informatics contract, changes and system updates.

Work Schedule : Monday -Friday; 4hrs/day (20hrs/wk)
Telework : Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # : PD99704FS
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Fi nancial Disclosure Report: Not required

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