Senior Nutritionist

Job Description Summary

Responsible for the design and implementation of a plan of nutritional care for ambulatory oncology patients, based on dentification and assessment of a patient's nutritional needs, correlated with other health plans. Requires strong interpersonal, interviewing, and public speaking skills for competence in both clinical and managerial areas. Contributes to planning and delivering of the nutrition component into the patient care programs at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Essential functions are those tasks, duties and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the job's purpose and objectives. Essential functions are critical or fundamental to the performance of the job. They are the major functions that the person in the job is held accountable for. Following are the essential functions of the job.

* Use this to denote if a function does not provide opportunity to perform beyond "Meets Expectations"
1. Clinical Responsibilities:
a. Provides medical nutrition therapy and counseling services for oncology patients and their families at the DF/BW CC at SSH. Conducts individual and or group sessions for patients and their families to educate and facilitate maximum nutritional compliance and intervention toward optimal treatment outcomes.

b. Maintains good rapport and effective working relationships with patients and their families, physicians, nurses, managers, administration and the media.

c. Interviews patients and their families and reviews information obtained from medical records and/or health care providers to assess and evaluate social, financial, environmental, and medical factors impacting nutrition status. Interprets anthropometric, laboratory, clinical and nutrient intake data to determine nutritional risk, nutritional status, dietary requirements and feeding limitations

d. Develops nutrition care plan utilizing clinical, bio-chemical and socio-economic factors. Determines optimum feeding route (i.e. po, enteral or parenteral), techniques, substrate and nutrient formulations inherent in different medical, surgical and/or research protocol situations.

e. Documents and communicates nutrition care plans and progress through written and verbal systems (medical records, discussion on patient-care rounds). Documents in accordance with established standards of practice.

f. As assigned, assists in the development of educational materials and resources for patients and their families.

g. Serves as a nutrition consultant, resource and lecturer for health care providers, students and the general public.

h. Participates as a team member in conferences/rounds on behalf of patients with other health care providers. Collaborates with case managers for continuing care plans. Communicates to patient care staff any nutritional problems which may affect a patient's response to overall medical care and treatment.

i. Interprets, evaluates and utilizes pertinent current research related to nutritional care.

j. Participates in selected quality management programs, as appropriate. Responsible for independently collecting data, evaluation of data for quarterly reports. Participates in patient and customer satisfaction surveys. Participates in patient and family focus groups, as appropriate.

2. Clinical Responsibilities: (continued)
a. Assists in the development of standards of practice within the Department of Nutrition. Assists in monitoring of selected clinical indicators and departmental audits.

b. Performs other duties as requested by management staff.

3. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:
a. Participates in the development and implementation of programmatic planning of ambulatory oncology nutrition services for adult patients.

b. Represents the Department of Nutrition and the Nutrition Consultation Service on committees as assigned within the DF/BW CC at SSH).

c. Participates in the development of policies and procedures related to nutrition care of ambulatory oncology patients and their families for JCAHO, Department of Health, research protocols, the Hospital and the Department as well as for specific disease-based clinics.

d. Collects and reports productivity data related to patient volume and referral statistics and fiscal recovery and reports information to Director of Nutrition, BWH and to the Coordinating Nutrition Specialist - Cancer Care, DFCI.

e. Assesses nutritional composition and clinical efficacy of new products and supplements, alternative/complementary products or diets. Maintains current information on new products and provides meaningful interpretation to physicians, nurses and other health care providers. Assists Coordinating Nutrition Specialist in controlling the availability and dispensation of nutritional pharmaceutical samples.

f. Submits patient charge information to appropriate personnel and reviews data entry report (Session Summaries) to ensure accuracy in billing.

g. Conducts advertising efforts to area institutions toward establishing new contracts for nutrition consultation, and through Marketing Department and/or Public Affairs to advertise educational programs. Develops and expands entrepreneurial proficiency in program patient volume and unit income growth. Works with manager to establish and manage volume/productivity targets.

h. Contributes to cost containment by careful use of supplies.

i. Performs other duties as requested by management staff.

4. EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
a. Plans, coordinates, teaches dietetic interns current nutrition guidelines and recommendations for oncology patients. Supervises Dietetic Interns as assigned.

b. Develops and presents formal and informal presentations on oncological nutrition to the DF/BW CC at SSH staff, colleagues, and students.

c. Represents the DF/BW CC at SSH to physicians, dietitians, nurses and pharmacists outside the institution by participating in educational programs and activities.

d. Serves as a mentor to less experienced staff and fosters team work to promote cooperation and support for patient care activities.

e. Educates health care professionals as to the goals of and methods for the provision of medical nutrition therapy to various ambulatory patient populations.

f. Develops and presents group education classes, in specialized areas to hospital staff, professional organizations, the community at large, media and/or contract institutions.

g. Develops and expands professional proficiency in areas of specialty.

h. Publishes in peer-reviewed or lay publications. Presents at professional conferences.

i. Participates in mandatory hospital inservices (OSHA, safety, respiratory, fire, confidentiality)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Cont.)

I. Technology and Learning
a. Participates in continued learning and possess a willingness and ability to learn and utilize new technology and procedures that continue to develop in their role and throughout the organization.

b. Embraces technological advances that allow us to communicate information effectively and efficiently based on role.

Minimum Education - Preferred

Baccalaureate Degree with ADA approved emphasis in science/education
Registered Dietitian, maintenance of required CEU’s of 75 credits per 5-year period

Minimum Work Experience

Approved Dietetic Internship or equivalent.
3 years experience in areas of clinical, educational, and oncological dietetics preferred.