Clinical Dietitian Lead

CHI; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider seeks a Clinical Dietitian Lead to enhance patient care through expert nutritional assessments and personalized care plans. This role involves mentoring clinical dietitians, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Join a dedicated team focused on improving health outcomes and patient satisfaction in a supportive environment. If you're passionate about nutrition and patient care, this opportunity offers a chance to make a meaningful impact in the community while advancing your career in a dynamic healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of acute hospital experience in complex care settings required.
• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics or related field with accredited program.

Responsibilities

• Assess nutritional status and develop personalized nutrition care plans.
• Collaborate with teams to improve patient care and ensure compliance.
• Lead training for clinical dietitians and support operational needs.

Skills

Nutritional Assessment

Patient Counseling

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Nutrition Education

Customer Service

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics

Tools

Clinical Guidelines

Nutrition Software

Job description

Overview

Welcome to Saint Joseph East, a 217-bed full-service community hospital located in a convenient setting in Lexington, Kentucky. Saint Joseph East also includes the Women's Hospital at Saint Joseph East, which is dedicated to supporting the well-being of women in Central and Eastern Kentucky and serves a 16-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

CHI Saint Joseph Health is part of CommonSpirit Health, a non-profit Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. With approximately 175,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, our commitment to serve the common good is delivered through the dedicated work of thousands of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, and staff through clinical excellence delivered across a system of 140 hospitals and more than 2,200 care centers serving 24 states.

Responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY / PURPOSE

The Clinical Dietitian Lead assesses the nutritional status of the patient using recognized tools of assessment and recommends and counsels patients, family, and/or caregivers on the appropriate nutrition plan to improve the patient's disease or condition management. The Clinical Dietitian Lead coordinates and assists with clinical nutrition administrative duties and mentors Clinical Dietitians and students. Performs administrative duties, participates in patient satisfaction, quality management, and performance improvement projects and meetings. Collaborates with the leadership in Food and Nutrition Services, as well as leadership in other departments as it relates to patient care and nutrition. Performs duties of Clinical Dietitian II on a regular basis.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Patient Screening & Nutritional Assessment:

   • Screen patients for nutritional risk following clinical guidelines.
   • Conduct assessments based on age, gender, cultural, and religious factors, utilizing validated tools.
   • Diagnose nutrition-related issues when appropriate and identify patients needing higher levels of care.
   • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient care.

2. Operational & Patient Support:

   • Support patient-facing roles (e.g., dietitians, diet clerks) and operational needs.
   • Ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., TJC, CMS, state health departments) and infection control.
   • Promote positive patient experiences through excellent communication and customer service.
   • Relay relevant data to management and staff when necessary.

3. Nutrition Intervention & Education:

   • Develop personalized nutrition care plans, including feeding routes, modes, and prescriptions.
   • Monitor patient response to nutrition interventions and document progress.
   • Provide tailored nutrition education to patients, families, and caregivers.
   • Actively participate in interdisciplinary care teams and follow up with patients as needed.
   • In Kentucky, coordinate services for neonates and pediatric patients through Kentucky Children's Services (KCS).

4. Staffing, Menu Development, & Training:

   • Assist with maintaining efficient staffing levels and support cost-effective operations.
   • Collaborate on menu development and oversee patient diet/nutritional compliance.
   • Participate in hospital committees (e.g., Quality, P&T) as needed.
   • Lead training for clinical dietitians and other healthcare staff, including workshops and MNT sessions.

5. Advanced Clinical Competency:

   • Provide expert nutrition care for high-acuity patients in specialized areas (e.g., NICU, oncology, renal, diabetes, etc.).
   • Possess order-writing privileges and advanced skills in nutrition support therapies.

6. Additional Duties:

   • Perform other tasks as assigned by leadership.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education and Experience:

• Experience:
  • Two (2) years of acute hospital experience working with patients in complex care settings (e.g., pediatric, bariatric, ICU).
• Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics or related field, with completion of an accredited dietetics program (ACEND - Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics).

Required Licensure and Certifications:

• Registered Dietitian (RD) upon hire.
• State Licensure (within 3 months of hire):
  • AR, GA, IA, KS, KY, MN, NE, NV, ND, OH, TN, TX, UT, WA.

Preferred Licensure and Certifications:

• Board Certifications (potential):
  • Board Certified Specialist in Oncology, Pediatric and Pediatric Critical Care, Renal, and Gerontological Dietetics.
  • Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (NBNSC) - ASPEN.
  • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (NCBDE).
  • Outpatient/Wellness Center/Rehabilitation: Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Obesity, and Weight Management.
• Experience Alternative:
  • In lieu of Board Certifications, three (3) years of acute care hospital experience or similar, working with patients in complex care settings.