Nutrition Care Assistant

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

Job summary

WVU Medicine in Morgantown is seeking a patient meal service associate to obtain meal selections, deliver meals, and retrieve trays. You’ll ensure adherence to special diets and allergies while maintaining cleanliness in nutrition centers.

Strong customer service and patient safety focus are essential. Responsibilities include using EPIC and VST to process menu requests, coordinating with kitchen staff, and supporting nursing staff.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid Food Service Worker Permit (FSWP) from MCHD prior to starting or obtain a Temporary FSWP and a permanent FSWP within 1 month.
• May not handle exposed food or any food contact surface until Temporary FSWP obtained; training on tray delivery provided.

Responsibilities

• Answers phone calls from patients following customer service standards.
• Adheres to diet restrictions, including allergies and fluid restrictions.
• Uses EPIC and VST for patient information and to process menu requests.
• Prints kitchen orders and manages meal nourishment orders.
• Delivers or retrieves meal trays as needed.
• Visits patients needing assistance for menu selections and enters data per diet restrictions.
• Deliver meals within service timeliness guidelines and maintain sanitation standards.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Attention to safety

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

EPIC

VST

Job description

Below, you’ll find other important information about this position. 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:

• 1. 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:

• 1. High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Answers phone calls from patients following customer service standards
2. Appropriately follows diet restrictions, including allergies and fluid restrictions
3. Utilizes EPIC and VST for necessary patient information and to correctly process menu requests
4. Processes between meal nourishment orders and prints for kitchen staff
5. Follows department procedure for the missed meal reports including alerting nursing.
6. May be asked to deliver or retrieve meal trays as needed.
7. Visits patients designated “needs assistance” for menu selections and properly enters according to diet restrictions.
8. Delivers meal trays to patients within service guidelines for timeliness.
9. 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.
10. Checks trays for missing items and intervenes to correct immediately. Maintains supply of condiments on cart.
11. Documents information required for ordered calorie counts
12. Monitors new patients for knowledge of room service, gives menu and explains as needed.
13. Rapport is established and maintained with nursing staff as evidenced by positive feedback and comments regarding communication with NCA.
14. Functions as a team with Clinical Dietitians. Respects Dietitian’s prime responsibility for patient nutritional care and responds appropriately.
15. Communicates clearly with tray line and production personnel regarding patient special requests (follow-ups on any unusual requests) to meet patient needs.
16. 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.
17. Patient trays are collected and returned to the kitchen within a reasonable timeframe.
18. While waiting for trays, assists the room service assembly line as needed, wrap silverware or help in dishroom.
19. Follows procedures for phone and iPad use.
20. Other duties may be assigned. May include duties normally done by a dietetic assistant.
21. Daily deadlines – must have menus completed by certain times and deliver meals on time.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

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

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• 1. Ability to understand written and oral communication.

ADDITIONAL JOB DESCRIPTION:

Shift may vary but predominantly be 1pm to 930 pm rotating weekends rotating holidays

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 8 Shift: Varied (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.

The West Virginia University Health System is West Virginia’s largest health system and largest private employer, providing care to communities across West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The integrated academic health system includes 25 hospitals and five institutes, with more than 3,500 licensed beds, 4,000 clinicians, 39,000 employees, and $8.5 billion in annual operating revenues. Anchoring the system in Morgantown, West Virginia, are WVU Hospitals, an 880-bed academic medical center, and the 150-bed WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital. Together, the Health System’s hospitals, clinics, and specialty programs provide a comprehensive continuum of care, ranging from community-based primary and specialty services to highly complex, quaternary care and post-acute care.