Diet Technician, Full Time, Days, Valley Health Services

Bassett Healthcare Network; Town of Herkimer (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Bassett Healthcare Network is seeking a Diet Technician to support the Dietitian in delivering optimal nutritional care for patients and residents. You will assist with diet orders, menu planning, and education, ensuring meals meet prescribed diets and quality standards.

The role involves reviewing patient charts, communicating changes, and collaborating with dietary staff to maintain high-quality service. A 2-year degree in nutrition is required, with flexibility for suitable experience.

Qualifications

• 2 Year/Associate Degree from an accredited college in Food and Nutrition is required.
• Experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Dietitian in developing and evaluating nutritional care plans for patients and residents.
• Monitor meals and nutrition status; ensure conformance with quality standards.
• Communicate dietary orders to staff and maintain patient nutrition education and counseling.

Skills

Accuracy

Communication

Customer Service

Interacting with People

Listening

Responsibility

Education

2 Year/Associate Degree

Job description

The best thing about this role

Are you looking to make a difference by improving the health of our patients? Here you will find an innovative culture that is patient-focused and dedicated to making a difference. We are committed to helping the population we serve, and our communities, achieve optimum health and enjoy the best quality of life possible.

What you'll do

The primary purpose of the Diet Technician is to provide assistance to the Food Service Director and Dietitian in facilitating optimal nutritional care of all patients and residents. Assist the Dietitian in developing, implementing and evaluating the nutritional care plan of all patients and residents. Monitor food services to patients and residents for conformance with quality standards. Maintain effective communication and good rapport between all Dietary personnel and other departments within the facility. Provides education and counseling on specific diets and general nutrition. Monitors nutrition status of patients and residents and communicates changes to dietitian.

• Receive dietary orders and requests from nursing through the use of Diet-o-grams
• Make all necessary changes, as requested, with the consultation of the Dietitian, if necessary
• Write therapeutic diets (i.e., diabetic, renal, etc.) using cycle menu with an awareness of parameters, i.e., diet, prescription, food preferences and nutritional balance
• Responsible for maintaining all nourishment lists and daily labels
• Responsible for inputting nourishment/meal information into the computer
• Write out Dietary meal tickets, as needed
• Obtain information as directed by the Dietitian in the patient/resident’s charts, using the prescribed format. This may include:
  • Confirmation of the patient/resident’s initial diet order and subsequent changes
  • Initial visitation of patient/resident and/or family upon admission
  • Summary if patient/resident’s diet history
  • Pertinent observations made by the technician
  • Summary of nutrition information and diet information given patient/resident, including: goals established, evidence of patient/resident’s/family’s understanding of the diet and probable compliance of diet instruction
• Evaluate foods served for compliance to quality standards and dietary prescriptions as necessary. This may include:
  • Checking the Dining Rooms for accuracy according to diet order and food preferences, as well as portion size
  • Making appropriate substitution on the tray line when necessary
  • Visit resident dining rooms during meal times, observing resident acceptance of food and appropriately reporting any observations to the Dietitian and/or Food Service Director, as necessary
• Provide nutrition information to the patient/resident and/or family, as needed. This may include:
  • Brief explanation of patient/resident’s diet order and its relationship to menu as served
  • Planning and instructing patient on diet, prior to discharge using established guidelines
  • Complete written transfer summary
• Communicate complete and accurate information to Dietitian and Dietary Staff to facilitate proper nutritional care
• Review all aspects of nutritional care for assigned patient/residents and document in medical record
• Completion of resident care plans and MDS 2.0 for assigned patient/residents
• Completion of patient/resident progress notes monthly or as needed
• Review patient/resident treatment books to monitor resident acceptance of meals, fluids and nourishments
• Assure that Diet orders are reflected on patient/resident meal tickets
• Attend and participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings
• Cooperate with and maintains close relationship with nursing service and all other disciplines for the benefit of total patient/resident care
• Is responsible for the total department operation in the absence of the Dietitian, Food Service Director and Evening Supervisor
• Perform all other duties as required
• Periodically reviews and/or evaluate forms, procedures, and policies as required and suggest changes
• Participate in any committees, or special Dietary projects, as requested
• Attend all required in-services and follows all department and facility policies and procedures including the use of personal protective equipment
• Maintain CONFIDENTIALITY of all pertinent resident care and employee information and follow HIPAA and HIV regulations

What we need from you

Education:

• 2 Year/Associate Degree from an accredited college in Food and Nutrition, required
  • Experience may be considered in lieu of education

Skills:

• Accuracy
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Interacting with People
• Listening
• Responsibility

Physical Requirements:

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 lbs. for force occasionally, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects
• Occasional balancing, climbing, crouching, typing/clerical/dexterity, grasping, hearing, kneeling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, receptive motion, seeing/monitor/computer use, standing, stooping, visual acuity (color, depth, perception)
• Frequent talking
• Constant fit testing

Hazards:

• Occasional bodily fluids/bloodborne exposure

Travel:

• No travel required

Total Rewards

Bassett Healthcare Network’s commitment to our employees includes benefit programs carefully designed with the needs and values of all our employees in mind. Many of the benefits we offer are paid fully or in large part by Bassett. Our generous benefits offerings include:

• Paid time off, including company holidays, vacation, and sick time
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability protection
• Retirement benefits including an employer match
• And more!

Specific benefit offerings may vary by location and/or position.

Pay Range

Salary is based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training, and fair market evaluation based on industry standards. The above compensation range represents a good faith belief of the compensation range by Bassett Healthcare Network, and its entities and affiliates, at the time of this posting or advertisement.

Pay Range Minimum:

USD $25.00/Hr.

Pay Range Maximum:

USD $30.48/Hr.

We love the difference people bring

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition), age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), genetic predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status protected by law.