Dietitian/Nutritionist - Full time/Part time

Eatrightma; Fitchburg (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health organization in Massachusetts is seeking a Dietitian/Nutritionist to provide nutritional education and counseling to underserved populations. This role involves working closely with a healthcare team to improve patient health outcomes, particularly for those with chronic conditions. Candidates should have a registered nutritionist/dietitian certification, and bilingual skills in Spanish and/or Portuguese are a plus. This is a full-time or part-time position with a focus on promoting access to culturally appropriate health services.

Qualifications

• Registered nutritionist/dietitian with certification or license.
• Experience in medical nutrition therapy and diabetes self-management education.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Assess and document nutritional status and needs of patients.
• Provide nutritional counseling as part of treatment plans.
• Develop and assess care plans with patients.
• Assist with meal planning and managing blood glucose education.
• Collaborate with the healthcare team on patient care.

Skills

Registered nutritionist/dietitian specializing in medical nutrition therapy

Weight management planning

Diabetes self-management education

Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills in English

Bilingual (Spanish and/or Portuguese)

Ability to engage and positively influence others

Experience working with an electronic health record

Job description

Dietitian/Nutritionist - Full time/Part time

The Nutritionist is an integral member of the team of primary care providers, nurses, clinical care managers, care coordinators, medical assistants, and behavioral health professionals in our patient centered medical home. The Nutritionist will have a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable, underserved individuals and families living with complex and/or chronic medical and behavioral conditions. He/she will connect with patients in person, on the phone, and in the health center to provide support and education in improving their health, better understanding their illness, and coordination of their care. Nutrition activities are designed to ensure that patients are able to access culturally and linguistically appropriate services in a timely and cost-effective manner. Future initiatives in growing this program may include development of group self‑management classes.

Responsibilities

• Assesses, monitors and documents the nutritional status and nutritional needs of patients using established standards of care and practice guidelines
• Provides nutritional counseling on an individual basis upon referral by clinicians as part of the clinical treatment plan
• Meets with patients on a regular basis to develop a plan of care and assess progress
• Actively involves patients in goal setting utilizing motivational interviewing and teach‑back techniques
• Assists in meal planning, label reading, carb counting, recognizing and responding to fluctuations in blood glucose and other relevant education for diabetic patients
• Provides education on specific diets for chronic diseases
• Interacts with patients to identify and address members’ barriers to receiving recommended health services, adhering to treatment plans, and becoming effective managers of their health
• Partners with other team members utilizing an interdisciplinary approach in planning care and addressing barriers to include accessing healthy food, behavioral health issues, and social determinants of health
• Ensures all programs are conducted in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Develops or acquires educational materials for individual and group use
• Serves as a resource for health center staff and community partner agencies
• Provides timely verbal and written communication with the provider, care coordinator, patients, and their families
• Works independently on special non‑recurring and ongoing projects as needed
• Participates in departmental, team, and organizational meetings, as well as QI projects, as assigned
• Participates in continuing education programs and trainings to meet certification, funding, or regulatory requirements and to meet the needs of the community

Minimum Qualifications

• Registered nutritionist/dietitian specializing in medical nutrition therapy, weight management planning, and diabetes self‑management education (must have a Medicaid billable certification or license)
• Certified Diabetes Educator preferred
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills in English
• Bilingual (Spanish and/or Portuguese) is a plus
• Ability to engage and positively influence others
• Experience working with an electronic health record preferred