Patient Menu Assistant – University of Rochester – Rochester, NY

To develop plans and provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in accordance with their physicians’ prescriptions and in a manner that is highly responsive to patients’ needs, thereby supporting a shortened length of stay. Uses available resources in the most cost-effective manner. Works in conjunction with the Clinical Dietitian in performing these duties.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

None.

MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Computer, printers, fax machine, pneumatic tube station, calculator

TYPICAL DUTIES:

• Visits patients at meals, monitors meal acceptance and resolves challenging food service problems in such a way as to maximize patient satisfaction, while meeting patient’s clinical nutrition needs; charts clinical nutrition recommendations in the medical record to promote positive outcomes for patients; obtains and enters extensive food preferences in the CBORD computerized diet system from patients who are having major food service problems; communicates food quality/acceptance issues to department management that reflect trends. Participates in departmental committees/activities to assure patient satisfaction with food service.
• Advises or receives referrals from Patient Diet Clerks for handling non-routine diets or situations; maintains the integrity of the CBORD Diet Office computer system; calculates meal plans for non-routine pattern diets and enters them in the computer system; checks or prepares menus or tray tickets for non-routine therapeutic diets, entering and locking selections in the system without delaying tray assembly. Participates in quality control data collection related to the Diet Office and/or patient care.
• Maintains the integrity of the selective menu system, nourishment system and tube feeding inventory/ordering system; advises Unit Support Assistants and departmental staff in adjusting trays for changed diet orders. Investigates and documents plans for handling allergy diets.
• Screens patients to identify risk level; assesses patients at moderate nutritional risk; develops and implements medical nutrition therapy for same. (May be assigned to infants, children, adolescents, adults or geriatric populations.) Calculates patients’ nutrient intakes, as ordered by physicians. Educates patients, their families and significant others on simple nutritional regimes; arranges individual follow up as needed. Plans meals with difficult and/or malnourished patients to reach clinical nutrition goals. Documents all aspects of patients’ nutritional care in their medical records.
• Collaborates with the Clinical Dietitian and other healthcare team members, verbally or via the medical record, to recommend the least restrictive but acceptable nutrition regime based on their knowledge of the patient’s condition. Participates in precepting undergraduate dietetic students and in training and coaching Unit Support Assistants regarding their food service role. Participates in orienting and training Clinical Dietitians, peers and Patient Diet Clerks.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Associate Degree in related field and experience in a health care setting preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

NOTE: This document describes typical duties and responsibilities and is not intended to limit management from assigning other work as required.