Diet Clerk

Covenant Health; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Health's Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is seeking a Food Service Worker / Diet Clerk to join its Food Services team. This full-time role supports patient meal service, processes meal orders, and ensures patients receive meals that align with their dietary needs.

You will interact with patients, nursing staff, and dietary colleagues, perform clerical tasks, and assist with meal preparation and reporting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; basic English, mathematics and grammar.
• Reading/comprehension and legible writing skills.
• Ability to perform repetitive clerical tasks reliably.
• Excellent telephone and customer service abilities.
• Familiar with general office practices and filing.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals per new diets or changes and communicate with dietitians as needed.
• Answer phones and assist patients, using the department's order format.
• Collect and update patient food preferences and meal orders.
• Prepare nourishments and supplements and assist with meal reporting.
• Perform clerical tasks accurately and attentively.

Skills

Telephone skills

Clerical tasks

General office practices

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Food Service Worker | Diet Clerk, Food Services

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Varied Shifts

Methodist Overview:

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, part of Covenant Health, is a trusted regional hospital serving East Tennessee with advanced care and a personal touch. With more than 30 specialties, including cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and vascular care, the facility offers innovative treatments for complex conditions like aneurysms, joint damage, heart failure, and chronic wounds. Backed by a team of over 1,000 healthcare professionals and 250 physicians, Methodist Medical Center combines state-of-the-art technology with compassionate care, earning national recognition for patient safety and excellence in stroke and heart care. Our facilities offer patients all the benefits of medical expertise and innovation while still embodying the convenience of a hometown medical center that is close to the support of family and friends.

Job Objectives:

To serve as the primary point of communication between patients, nursing staff, and others and Food Services department; and to accurately process meal requests as ordered, ensuring the patient’s special diet needs are met.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals in response to new diets, diet changes, tube feedings, or supplements for patient trays accurately; Refers meal requests and questions to the clinical dietitians when unable to process or answer accurately;
• Visits patients in their room or answers telephone appropriately utilizing the department’s written format for taking patient meal orders, and utilizing customer service skills as established by MMC. Performs all clerical tasks correctly and attentively;
• Collects and maintains food preferences for patients and places meal orders; and contacts patients who have not placed meal orders.
• Prepares nourishments and supplements,
• Generates reports as needed.
• NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Other duties as assigned.
• HEALTH/SAFETY/COMPETENCE: Cannot pose a direct threat to health or safety of self or others. Must provide safe, efficient, competent care to customer or patient population. Must demonstrate competency of the functions described in the performance continuum and skills list.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent is required, with course work to include English, mathematics and grammar. Must be able to read with comprehension, write legibly and perform simple arithmetic calculations. Must be familiar with general office practices such as accurate filing and effective general office machine usage, and must possess excellent telephone skills. Must be capable of performing repetitive clerical tasks on a continuous basis. Must show good judgment and reliability and be able to work without direct supervision.

EXPERIENCE:

A minimum of six months’ experience in a clerical position is preferred.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS:

None is required