Nutrition Care Assistant

WVU Medicine Golisano Children's; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown is seeking a patient meal service assistant to manage meal selections, deliver trays, and assist with nutrition center sanitation. The role requires vigilance on diet restrictions and patient safety, with strong customer service skills.

The position involves using EPIC and VST for orders, coordinating with nursing, and supporting Dietitians as a team. Shifts include early mornings and weekends, with a 40-hour week in a hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid FSWP from MCHD prior to starting or obtain a temporary FSWP by first Wednesday, and a permanent FSWP within 1 month of start date.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred.
• Excellent customer service and concern for patient safety.

Responsibilities

• Answers phone calls from patients following customer service standards.
• Adheres to diet restrictions, including allergies and fluid restrictions.
• Uses EPIC and VST to access patient information and process menu requests.
• Processes meal nourishment orders and prints for kitchen staff.
• Delivers or retrieves meal trays as needed.
• Views patients designated as needing assistance for menu selections and enters data per diet restrictions.
• Delivers meals within timeliness guidelines and ensures accuracy of trays.
• Maintains sanitation and infection control standards in nutrition centers on units.
• Assists with room service line and dishroom tasks as required.
• Follows procedures for phone and iPad use.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Dietary restrictions knowledge

EPIC/VST usage

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

FSWP Permit (MCHD)

Tools

EPIC

VST

Job description

This position provides direct patient meal service, either obtaining meal selections in person or via the hospitality center ordering system, delivering meals and retrieving meal trays. Must be knowledgeable in special diets and allergies. Also maintain cleanliness of nutrition centers in patient care areas. Excellent customer service skills and concern for all aspects of patient safety crucial.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Certification, and/or Licensure

• Must have a valid Food Service Worker Permit (FSWP) from Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) prior to starting OR obtain a MCHD Temporary FSWP no later than the first Wednesday of employment* and a permanent MCHD FSWP within 1 month of start date (next available class). Must have a valid MCHD FSWP throughout employment. *Until a Temporary FSWP is obtained: May not handle exposed food or any food contact surface, equipment or utensil; May be trained on tray delivery and complete general department orientation.

Preferred Qualifications

Education, Certification, and/or Licensure

• High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Answers phone calls from patients following customer service standards
• Appropriately follows diet restrictions, including allergies and fluid restrictions
• Utilizes EPIC and VST for necessary patient information and to correctly process menu requests
• Processes between meal nourishment orders and prints for kitchen staff
• Follows department procedure for the missed meal reports including alerting nursing.
• May be asked to deliver or retrieve meal trays as needed.
• Visits patients designated “needs assistance” for menu selections and properly enters according to diet restrictions.
• Delivers meal trays to patients within service guidelines for timeliness.
• Follows delivery standards including hand sanitization, infection control requirements, two patient identifiers, AIDET and key phrases. Alerts nursing if patient is not properly positioned to begin eating or otherwise appears to need assistance.
• Checks trays for missing items and intervenes to correct immediately. Maintains supply of condiments on cart.
• Documents information required for ordered calorie counts
• Monitors new patients for knowledge of room service, gives menu and explains as needed.
• Rapport is established and maintained with nursing staff as evidenced by positive feedback and comments regarding communication with NCA.
• Functions as a team with Clinical Dietitians. Respects Dietitian’s prime responsibility for patient nutritional care and responds appropriately.
• Communicates clearly with tray line and production personnel regarding patient special requests (follow-ups on any unusual requests) to meet patient needs.
• Meets sanitation, safety and quality control guidelines set forth by departmental policies, health department regulations and HAACP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) in maintaining cleanliness of nutrition centers on the units.
• Patient trays are collected and returned to the kitchen within a reasonable timeframe.
• While waiting for trays, assists the room service assembly line as needed, wrap silverware or help in dishroom.
• Follows procedures for phone and iPad use.
• Other duties may be assigned. May include duties normally done by a dietetic assistant.
• Daily deadlines – must have menus completed by certain times and deliver meals on time.

Physical Requirements

• Can push fully loaded tray cart (approx. 250 lbs)
• Ability to stand for most of the working day

Working Environment

• This positions requires patient interaction, some conditions/appearance may be distressing.
• Enter isolation precaution patient rooms with proper protective equipment.
• Kitchen environment often noisy.

Skills And Abilities

• Ability to understand written and oral communication.

Additional Job Description

5am-1:30pm

Rotates weekends and holidays

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Shift

Day (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Company

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals

Cost Center

4600 WVUH CH Pediatrics Dietary

Address

1 Medical Center Drive

Morgantown

West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.