Supervises the day to day operations of the clinical dietitians and clinical dietetic technicians as well as provides direct patient care and oversees updating and maintenance of nutrition software.  Direct patient care includes the planning and delivery of nutrition care for patients of any age including infant, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric.  The clinical nutrition supervisor independently manages nutrition care for patients utilizing medical staff approved medical nutrition therapy order implementation policies. 

The clinical nutrition supervisor is expected to perform at the level of the Clinical Dietitian III in addition to their leadership responsibilities.  Clinical dietitian III are highly competent clinicians who have consistently demonstrated professional skills and abilities at the level of Clinical Dietitian II.  These professionals have a broad knowledge base and strong clinical skills which they demonstrate in direct patient care, in consulting with physicians and the health care team, and in training students and consulting with colleagues.  They are sought for their expertise, which may be in more than one area, and serve as consultants and a resource to the department and other programs in the medical center.  Dietitians at this level are acknowledged as leaders by their colleagues and demonstrate motivation, creativity, and a commitment to strengthening the profession and clinical nutrition practice at Memorial Medical Center.  Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Quality, Integrity and Stewardship that support our mission, vision and values.

Education:

Requires Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, or related field.

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Requires Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Requires licensure in State of Illinois as a Licensed Dietitian.

Experience:

• Requires at least four years related experience as a clinical dietitian in an acute care setting.
• Two years of previous management/supervisory or demonstrated leadership experience is required.
• Requires knowledge and experience to develop medical care plans for oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition therapy in complex patients.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Minimum of 36 hours of continuing education accumulated in a specialty area preferred.
• Requires high level of self-direction to work independently.
• Requires effective written and verbal communication skills.

1. Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Quality, Integrity and Stewardship that support our mission, vision and values:

• SAFETY: Prevent Harm - I will put safety first in everything I do.  I will speak up, without fear, on matters of patient and colleague safety.  I will take action to create an environment of zero harm.

• QUALITY: Improve Outcomes -  I will continually advance my knowledge and skills.  I will seek out continuous improvement opportunities.  I will deliver evidence-based care that leads to excellence in outcomes.

• INTEGRITY: Show respect and Compassion  - I will respect others and show compassion.  I will behave honesty and ethically.  I will be accountable for my attitude, actions and health.

• STEWARDSHIP: Reduce Waste - I will use resources wisely and maintain financial stability.  I will work together to coordinate care and services across the health system.  I will promote healthier communities.

1. Responsible for Patient Satisfaction results and initiatives within area of responsibility.

1. Responsible for planning and coordinating day to day operations/scheduling of clinical dietitians and clinical dietetic technicians. Coordinates daily activities of clinical dietitians for efficient operation of the area.  Approves paid time off for direct reports. 

1. Coordinates efforts with Food and Nutrition management team, director and staff to meet department and patient goals.

1. Responsible for the maintenance and updating of nutrition-related patient menu software.

1. Continuously assesses and improves the performance of care and services provided.

1. Participates in applied research and utilizes research findings and current knowledge in nutrition care to ensure that the most current information available is used in the treatment of patients.

1. Monitors data collection to ensure quality and appropriateness of patient care.

1. Under the direction of the department director, develops and implements policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services.

1. Responsible for meeting, documenting and demonstrating compliance with all pertinent governmental and accreditation requirements and guidelines.

1. Develops long and short-range department plans and programs consistent with departmental and organizational policies.

1. Participates in the preparation of the annual budget for areas of responsibility and manages expenditures.

1. Responsible for interviewing, selection and retention of the clinical dietitians and clinical diet technicians. Coordinates staff orientation to the team and provides training and education as needed. Evaluates staff performance and takes action as necessary.  Coordinates the validation of competencies of staff. 

1. Provides a maximum of 50% of time providing direct patient care, including nutrition assessment, care plan development, education, and feeding tube placement.

1. Verify time cards of direct reporting staff.

1. Builds and maintains relationships with nutrition product vendors.

1. Participates on hospital-wide committees as needed.

1. Oversees all clinical nutrition internship activities.

1. Specialty Areas: Clinical dietitians may be required to cover clinical specialty areas, which require he/she meets additional competencies and training to provide nutrition care to these disease specific patients.  Additional job duties are defined below according to specialty type.

Cardiac Rehab: The clinical dietitian will provide a monthly group nutrition class on heart healthy nutrition as well as diabetes to the out-patient cardiac rehab. The classes will be documented in each patient’s medical record. The clinical dietitian will review and/or develop educational materials for the specific nutritional needs of the cardiac patient.

Heart Failure Clinic: The clinical dietitian will function as part of the Heart Failure Clinic team by providing nutrition assessment, intervention, and education as indicated.  Care will be documented in the patient’s medical record.  The dietitian will review and/or develop educational materials for the specific nutritional needs of the heart failure patient, will develop a lunch menu plus recipe(s) handout for the monthly Heart Failure Support Group, and will attend meetings regarding Heart Failure Clinic as indicated.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS): The clinical dietitian will complete the LVRS CBL regarding the care of a LVRS patient biannually.  The dietitian will provide nutrition evaluation to include assessment, intervention, and education, with care documented in the patient’s medical record.  Pre-surgical care will be documented in the medical record using the LVRS pre-admission note.  In-patient care will be documented in the medical recording using the nutrition assessment form, education record and LVRS daily rounding note.  Patients may also be seen post discharge as an outpatient in pulmonary rehab, if indicated.  The dietitian will attend LVRS Team Selection meetings as well as daily rounding with the multidisciplinary team (weekdays only).

Outpatient Dialysis: The clinical dietitian must be licensed as a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist by the State of Illinois for one year or supervised by a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist with licensure for 1 year.  The dietitian will provide nutrition assessment, intervention, and education monthly for all acute dialysis unit patients receiving outpatient dialysis.  The dietitian will review monthly labs with the patient and calculate kt/v as part of the monthly nutrition assessment.  The dietitian will document care in the patient’s medical record.   The dietitian is also responsible for maintaining regular communication with the nursing home dietitian, if the patient resides in a nursing home.  The dietitian will participate in Interdisciplinary Team Meetings (IDT) and Unit Based Council (UBC) Quality Assessment Performance Improvement (QUAPI) meetings as appropriate.

Radiation Oncology: The clinical dietitian will see newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients as notified by the Oncology Nurse Navigator and provide nutrition assessment and/or education.  The dietitian will document care in the patient’s medical record.

Rehab: The clinical dietitian will facilitate group nutrition classes to patients and families on the rehab unit as well as attend rounds as indicated/appropriate.  Care will be documented as indicated on the rehab rounding form.

1. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

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