Dietitian Aide

Job Summary:

Under direct and indirect supervision, receives patient menu selections. Generates, processes and inputs patient menus and reports into computerized diet office system in a timely manner. Assists with room service operations for patient and guest meals. Performs general office duties.

Essential Responsibilities:

* Obtains menu choices from patients and guests via phone order or patient visitation. Ensures patients menu selections are in compliance with prescribed diet order, nutritional adequacy, age, cultural background and religious practice. Offers patients appropriate alternate food and beverage choices. Resolves patient requests/complaints or relays to appropriate staff (e.g. dietitian, nursing staff).
* Ensures meal orders have been transmitted to correct location for meal preparation. Prints and processes patient food service reports, including meal census and food tally report. Records all assigned data such as patient meal census and floor stock requests on paper logs or electronic spreadsheet.
* Answers and directs telephone calls and/or faxes as appropriate. Consistently logs in and out of the Automated Call Distribution System. Assists members, staff and visitors who enter Food and Nutrition Services office.
* May assist with room service delivery as needed. Assists with assembling patient trays, loading carts and delivering meals to patients. Checks accuracy of meal tray against printed tray ticket menu.
* Processes patient menu selections utilizing computerized diet office system. Updates, monitors, and follows-up on all pertinent information such as new patient admissions, discharges, transfers, diet order changes, food allergies, food preferences and food requests. Communicates pertinent information to Dietitian.
* Writes and modifies menus as needed according to patient diet prescription using established resources/guidelines. Clarifies unclear or missing diet orders with nursing staff.
* Performs general office duties. Maintains department files and records and supplies. Photocopies forms as needed.
* Orients new employees to position.
* Monitors and adheres to standards and procedures for department security, safety and sanitation. Substitutes appropriate foods on tray line as necessary. Reports necessary equipment repair to maintenance or appropriate staff.
* Serves as a dietary resource for nursing and other staff. Resolves problems with patient trays. May provide general information on diet utilizing approved materials and resources.