Job Information
Lawrence General Hospital Outpatient Dietitian in Andover, Massachusetts
As an outpatient Bariatric Dietitian, you will provide outpatient clinical nutrition services (i.e. medical nutrition therapy, bariatric nutrition therapy, and cardiac rehab nutrition therapy) providing high quality nutritional care to patients.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Evaluates and monitors the nutritional needs of patients, including bariatric surgery patients, to assure appropriate nutritional care
Identifies high nutritional risk patients and makes clear treatment recommendations based on nutritional indicators in the medical record.
Performs nutritional assessments on medical nutrition therapy patients, bariatric patients and cardiac rehab patients, using pre-established criteria, and formulates nutritional care plans appropriate to patient’s age and physical limitations, making recommendations to physicians and health care team members as needed.
Performs nutritional assessments on pre-operative and post-operative bariatric patients and using ASMBS guidelines, formulates nutritional care plans, appropriate to patient’s age, co-morbidities and physical limitations, making recommendations to patients, physicians and health care team members as needed.
Participates in multidisciplinary patient care team meetings and collaborates with other allied health professionals in patient’s plan of care, including discharge planning.
Communicates relevant changes in patient’s condition/treatment plan to nursing, assuring accuracy and continuity of care.
Communicates with physicians, nursing, patients/families, and ancillary departments regarding patient conditions/treatments, verbally (including via phone) and in writing.
Counsels patients/families on modified diets, as prescribed by physicians, according to their learning needs, barriers to learning, preferred learning styles and education levels, utilizing interpreter services when indicated.
Develops patient’s educational materials, reviewing and revising such as needed, using current standards of acceptable practice.
Reviews and evaluates special nutritional products, making recommendations for use to patients and other bariatric staff members.
Develops, implements, and facilitates outpatient nutritional/support groups for pre-operative and post-operative patients.
Completes all required documentation, reports and logs in a timely, professional and thorough manner.
Follows facility and department infection control policies and procedures.
Participates in facility-wide and departmental Performance Improvement Program, and on Performance Improvement teams. to improve processes and patient care.
Maintains direct patient care 75% of his/her time; meets department standard for productivity during patient care hours.
EDUCATION AND RELATED EXPERIENCE: Required:
Registration eligibility with the American Dietetic Association, Commission on Dietetic Registration. Must sit for registration exam within three months of hire, with registration obtained no later than five months from hire.
Maintains professional RD license per state regulations
Preferred:
Registration with the American Dietetic Association, Commission on Dietetic Registration
Dietitian/Nutritionist License with the Licensing Board of Dietitians & Nutritionists of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
One or more years of experience with outpatient nutrition care activities.
Certification in specialized area (i.e. Nutrition Support, Pediatrics, Renal Diabetes Education, etc.)
Postgraduate degree in nutrition related field.
Lawrence General Hospital is a private, non-profit community hospital providing the Merrimack Valley & southern New Hampshire regions with patient-centered, compassionate, and quality health care for the whole family. For over 140 years, the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff of Lawrence General have been committed to improving the health of the people and communities we serve.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce