Nutrition Assistant

100 Baystate Medical Center; United States; On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Baystate Health is seeking a Nutrition Assistant to guide patients in selecting meals that align with Medical Nutrition Therapy orders, using Hand Held Technology and coordinating with the Clinical Nutrition Team. The role emphasizes patient service and accurate meal preparation across departments.

Responsibilities include assessing patient needs, assisting with diet-appropriate choices, documenting intake, and communicating issues to nurses and dietitians to improve patient satisfaction and

Qualifications

• Able to speak, write and comprehend English.
• Basic math skills.
• Ability to follow directions.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Familiarly with using Windows based software.

Responsibilities

• Assesses patients for appropriateness for food selections.
• Assist patients and family with meal selections when indicated, offering suggestions as to what types of foods would be appropriate on a specific diet type.
• Provides guidance and encourages patients and/or family to select foods that meet MNT orders. Recommends alternatives. Confirms MNT orders and allergies in CIS and CBord.
• Communicates consistent food choice and/or intake problems to clinical nutrition team and nursing.
• Delivers supplements to patients, assists nursing in verifying consumption, uses double identifiers for distribution of nourishments.
• Records supplement, fluid and meal intake.
• Reports patient meal problems to dieticians, follows up with dieticians when patient has not ordered for 2 meal periods.

Skills

English fluency

Basic math

Follow instructions

Verbal communication

Windows software

Tools

Windows

Job description

Summary

The Nutrition Assistant facilitates patient meal selections, using Hand Held Technology with a special emphasis on customer service. The Nutrition Assistant provides guidance to patients and family members to select foods that are in compliance with Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) orders. The Nutrition Assistant provides support for nursing and Clinical Nutrition Team. In addition, the Nutrition Assistant facilitates intra and inter department communication to provide quality patient care and enhance patient satisfaction. Required to perform other similar and related duties as assigned. The manager may change or add duties to meet the operational needs of the department at any time without prior notice.

Job Responsibilities

1. Assesses patients for appropriateness for food selections.
2. Assist patients and family with meal selections when indicated, offering suggestions as to what types of foods would be appropriate on a specific diet type.
3. Provides guidance and encourages patients and/or family to select foods that meet MNT orders. Recommends alternatives. Confirms MNT orders and allergies in CIS and CBord.
4. Communicates consistent food choice and/or intake problems to clinical nutrition team and nursing.
5. Delivers supplements to patients , assists nursing in verifying consumption , uses double identifiers for distribution of nourishments.
6. Uses dual identifiers when assisting a patient to order their food.
7. Ensures completeness and accuracy of tray and assists patients with tray set up when needed. Practices "clean in, clean out".
8. Records supplement, fluid and meal intake. Records calorie count when ordered.
9. Reports patient meal problems to dieticians , follows up with dieticians when patient has not ordered for 2 meal periods, uses the C-Bord program to provide a well kept record for dealing with discrepancies in Patient Care in regard to feeding. Responsible for follow up with patients where we have not met their expectations, and reporting back to FS Operations Manager as to what the desired outcome will be.
10. Provide accurate and complete information for the production area, therefore streamlining the process of assembling patient trays in an accurate method . Major emphasis on keeping waste to a low level is required, which involves communication regarding MHU discharges being removed prior to assembly.
11. Work with nursing to break down the barriers of communication, opening doors between areas and ensuring proper communication is being used for all aspects of patient care.
12. Uses status icons on C-Bord Program, especially the refused tray button on C-Bord. Provides trays for patients, only honoring diet changes when a physician or nurse has physically changed the patients diet in C-Board.
13. Inserts tray tickets using proper methods, following the designated standards as they are set , with no variations.
14. Follows the pre-determined ticket set up, having the hot items, garnish, etc. at the top of the tray ticket , then places the cold items in the pre determined areas to allow for a more streamlined assembly of trays.
15. Distributes tube feedings on the floors at the designated times to ensure patient receives and utilizes the product.
16. Understands and uses the new hand held technology for inputting patient meals through the C-Bord system, follows pre-determined scripting for each interaction, and checking allergies.
17. When assigned attends nursing practice meetings on all the floors, interacts with nursing to develop or redesign a process fails through communication and collaboration.
18. Re-institute test tray program between food service employees as well as nursing, explain the process, document the results for monthly reporting.
19. Follow up with patients using the patient satisfaction survey tool, inquiring if we have met their expectations of an excellent experience. Seek feedback on how to improve the overall food service experience.
20. Demonstrates and models principals of service excellence in support of the patient experience and SPIRIT program.

Required Work Experience

• None

Preferred Work Experience

• Food service and/or healthcare experience

Skills and Competencies

• Able to speak, write and comprehend English
• Basic math skills
• Ability to follow directions
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Familiarly with using Windows based software

Compensation

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum $17.98 - $20.68 - $24.12

Equal Opportunity Statement

Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

About Baystate Health

Baystate Health is a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system with hospitals, physician practices, a health plan and more serving over 800,000 people throughout western New England. Baystate Health is the safety net provider in Western Massachusetts. With roots dating to the founding of Springfield Hospital in 1883, Baystate Health has been providing high-quality, compassionate and accessible care in the Pioneer Valley for more than 140 years and continues to be a pillar of its community - rooted here, serving here, and helping generations thrive here. With a focus on advancing health for all, Baystate is not only a keystone of the region, it is a national leader in health care. Learn more at BaystateHealth.Org The ever-growing health system includes six Massachusetts hospitals: Baystate Medical Center in Springfield Baystate Children's Hospital (located at Baystate Medical Center) Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield Baystate Mercy Hospital in Springfield