Diet Technician

Texas Children's; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Children's is seeking a Diet Technician to support clinical nutrition staff in a fast-paced hospital setting. You will screen patients for nutrition risk, document results, and coordinate referrals to the Clinical Dietitian.

The role includes nutrient intake analysis, calorie count studies, and data collection for quality control. Responsibilities include communicating with medical staff, assisting with diet orders, and providing age-appropriate education and menu adjustments.

Qualifications

• Technical diploma in a dietetic education program or a Bachelor's degree in a nutrition-related field.
• DTR (Dietetic Technician registered) credential preferred.

Responsibilities

• Screens and rescreens patients for nutrition risk.
• Documents results in medical records and refers to the Clinical Dietitian as per guidelines.
• Performs nutrient intake analysis and initiates calorie count studies.
• Communicates with clinical, medical and diet office staff to address nutritional needs.
• Assists dietitian in DME activities and attends departmental meetings.
• Coordinates special patient requests to facilitate accurate diet order implementation.
• Provides age-appropriate patient education and menu adjustments to support the patient care plan.
• Collects and inputs data for Departmental Quality Control Plan including formula room or sample audits, NPO/CL monitoring and Food/Drug education compliance monitoring.
• Adjusts care to accommodate all age groups including Neonates, Infants, Toddler, Preschool Age, School Age, Adolescent, and Adult.

Education

Technical diploma in Dietetic education program

Bachelor's degree in nutrition related field

Job description

We are searching for a Diet Technician - someone who works well in a fast-paced setting. In this position, you will provide support to the clinical nutrition staff in a manner developmentally appropriate for the ages of patients served.

Think you've got what it takes?

Screens/rescreens patients for nutrition risk per established criteria. Documents result in medical records and make appropriate referrals to the Clinical Dietitian as per guidelines. Performs follow up as per departmental guidelines.

Performs nutrient intake analysis. Initiates calorie count studies per RD request or MD order. Calculates nutrient intake data per standards and documents results per appropriate format in patient medical record.

Communicates effectively with clinical, medical and diet office staff, responding to patient's nutritional needs. Provides dietitian with pertinent information regarding food concerns, eating difficulties and other nutritional problems in timely manner. Assists dietitian in DME activities. Attends and participates in departmental meetings and committees. Helps to coordinate special patient requests/needs to facilitate accurate diet order implementation with the Diet Office. Provides accurate patient referrals to dietitian to include consultations, NPO referrals, Food/Drug screening.

Provides age-appropriate patient education and menu adjustments to support the patient care plan. Provides education related to formula preparation, Food/Drug interactions, Healthy Eating Guidelines and single restriction diets as assigned. Assists patients with menu selections for specialized menu types.

Collects and inputs data. Collects and inputs data for Departmental Quality Control Plan as assigned including formula room or sample audits, NPO/CL monitoring and Food/Drug Interaction education compliance monitoring.

Adjusts care to accommodate all age groups including Neonates, Infants, Toddler, Preschool Age, School Age, Adolescent, and Adult.

Required Technical diploma Dietetic educational program Or X Bachelor's Degree Nutrition related field

Dietetic Technician registered (DTR) issued by the Commission for Dietetic Registration preferred.