Nutrition Care Assistant

WVU Medicine; 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 obtain meal selections, deliver meals, and ensure diet restrictions are followed. The role emphasizes excellent customer service and patient safety.

This position requires knowledge of special diets and allergies, with shift hours from 5:30am to 2pm, rotating weekends and holidays. Expect a 40-hour work week in a hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid FSWP from MCHD or obtain a temporary FSWP by the first Wednesday of employment and a permanent FSWP within 1 month.
• Knowledge of special diets and allergies is required.
• Strong customer service and patient-safety focus is essential.

Responsibilities

• Answers phone calls from patients following customer service standards.
• Adheres to diet restrictions including allergies and fluid restrictions.
• Utilizes EPIC and VST for patient information and menu requests.
• Processes between meal nourishment orders and prints for kitchen staff.
• Follows missed meal report procedures and alerts nursing as needed.
• Delivers or retrieves meal trays as required.
• Assists with menu selections for patients designated as needing assistance.
• Maintains sanitation and infection control standards in nutrition centers.
• Supports room service assembly and dishroom activities as needed.
• Ensures timely delivery of patient trays and accurate item checks.

Skills

Customer service

Dietary knowledge

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

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

The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

• 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

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 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

Shift will be 530am to 2pm

rotating weekends

rotating 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

600 WVUH 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.