The Clinical Nutrition Coordinator position is an experienced, advance practice Dietitian with ten (10) years or more experience in an acute care setting or environment consistent with job responsibilities. This Dietitian is responsible for the supervision of Clinical Nutrition staff who provide nutritional care to patients and clients of the Cedars-Sinai Health System. This encompasses direct supervision of Clinical I and Clinical II Registered Dietitians, Registered Dietetic Technicians as assigned, and Clinical III Dietitians in the absence of the Manager of Clinical Nutrition.
As the Clinical Nutrition Coordinator, the incumbent affects the nutritional care of patients through managing assigned resources and systems to provide optimal medical nutrition therapy. The Coordinator oversees staff in all areas of responsibility to assure that job duties are performed with sensitivity and attention to the cultural, age, and developmental issues of the patient populations served. This person must be able to work independently, as well as in harmony with his/her peers, and have strong clinical as well as managerial skills. Participates with other members of the Food and Nutrition management team in the development of appropriate resources addressing the individual therapeutic needs of the patient.
Works in collaboration with Medical Staff, Nursing, Pharmacy, and other Allied Health Team Members. Creates an environment or culture that enables the unit and hospital to fulfill its mission and meet or exceed its goals. The Clinical Nutrition Coordinator must also assure compliance with all third (3rd) party regulations, departmental, and Medical Center policies. This person must provide leadership and coaching in quality patient relations, communication and problem solving.
Acts as a coordinator and facilitator with the Clinical Manger to assure consistency of compliance to departmental Medical Center policies and governmental regulations. In conjunction with the Manager, responsibilities include, hiring and firing, management of assigned staff, scheduling, time record processing, training, performance appraisal, and coordination programs and approved research projects. This position provides leadership for fifteen to twenty five (15-25) Clinical Dietitians/Dietetic Technicians. Adheres to the American Dietetics Association's Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for Dietetics Professionals (reference hhtp://www.eatright.com- Practice & Quality Management sections) as applicable to the clinical setting. Adheres to the ADA code of ethics for the profession of dietetics (http://www.eatright.com).
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Nutrition Assessment: Nutrition assessment is a systematic process of obtaining, verifying and interpreting data in order to make decisions about the nature and cause of nutrition-related problems. It is initiated by referral and/or screening of new admissions for nutritional risk factors. Nutritional assessment is an on-going, dynamic process that involves not only initial data collection, but also continual reassessment and analysis of a patient’s needs assessment. (Standard 1: ADA Standard of Practice in Nutrition care).
- Identifies need for and implements comprehensive assessment consistent with policy; directs the nutritional assessment process in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team.
- Collects pertinent data and interprets appropriately.
- Collaborates with patient/family/significant other where appropriate in the assessment process; facilitates their active participation in establishing nutrition related goals and objectives. Evaluates the patient’s nutritional related education needs; provides education and documents as appropriate in the medical record
- Communicates and collaborates effectively with other professionals in developing and following up on the plan of fare per policy.
- Documents various systems (VST, MR, WEB/VS), makes for good follow-up care by other staff (next RD/DTR to follow).
- Nutrition Diagnosis: The RD identifies and describes an actual occurrence, risk of, or potential for developing a nutrition problem that the RD is responsible for treating independently. (Standard 2: ADA Standard of Proactive in Nutrition Care).
- Nutrition Intervention: The Rd identifies and implements appropriate, purposefully planned actions designed with the intent of changing a nutrition-related behavior, risk factor, or aspect of health status for an individual. (Standard 2: ADA Standard of Practice in Nutrition Care).
- Keeps updated on and uses evidence based practice guidelines/measures for appropriate value(s) for control or improvement of the disease or conditions as defined and supported in the literature; takes a leadership role in this respect with more junior staff and in the department in general.
- Determines patient centered outcomes that are clear, concise, observable and measurable, during the initial assessment and on follow up and documents consistently in the plan of care; oversees and mentors more junior staff in this regard giving constructive and timely feedback when warranted.
- On patient/client follow-up, addresses expected outcomes as documented in the plan of care.
- Collaborates with other colleagues and health care professionals in expediting orders that lead to the best practice outcomes for the individual patient, this includes attendance at patient care conferences, rounds, etc. where care can be discussed and orders quickly obtained for required changes
- Responds promptly to the patient’s need for education, need for change in orders, or any other circumstance that requires change for demonstration of the best outcome.
- Revises strategies as changes in condition/response occur.
- Refers patients to appropriate resources in the community as needed.
- Effectively communicates with all disciplines to achieve the best outcome for the patient.
- Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation: The RD monitors and evaluates outcomes directly related to the goals established in the plan of care to determine the degree to which progress is being made and goals or desired outcomes of nutrition care are being met.
- Patient outcomes directly relate to the goals established in the plan of care (e.g., knowledge gained, food or nutrient intake changes, improved nutritional status).
- Clinical and health status outcomes such as laboratory values, weight, signs and symptoms, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, nausea, improved appetite, IV is terminated secondary to adequate oral intake, are improved/adjusted secondary to care provided
- Contributes to improved health care utilization and cost outcomes: Example- change in enteral formula leading to better patient outcomes and better financial outcome overall; use of enteral vs. parenteral route directly related to RD intervention.
- Documentation of the monitoring and evaluation is relevant, accurate and timely.
- Provision of Services: The RD provides quality service based on client (patient, colleagues families etc.) expectations and needs. (Standard 1: ADA Standard of Professional Performance).
- Plans, develops facilitates and evaluates clinical nutrition care within the section. Performs audits and utilizes operational data to improve efficiency and quality of medical nutrition therapy.
- Provides feedback to staff and develops programs to evaluate competency on an ongoing basis.
Education
Master’s degree preferred
Work Experience
Minimum of five (5) years experience required in a clinical or clinical management environment.
Membership in the American Dietetic Association preferred
Licenses and Certifications
Certification as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration required – At time of hire
Certified Diabetes Educator Certification – At time of hire
