Nutrition Care Patient Services Representative

University of Utah Health; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah Health seeks a dedicated Nutrition Services staff member to ensure patient meals meet dietary needs in an inpatient setting. You will coordinate with physicians, nurses, dietitians, and unit staff to accurately process orders and deliver meals.

Role emphasizes patient interaction, accurate data entry into the nutrition software, and timely handling of special requests. A hospital environment requires teamwork, communication, and adherence to food safety standards.

Qualifications

• One year of customer service experience.
• Must obtain one of the indicated food handling permits within 30 days of employment.
• Incumbents assigned to patient care units must complete a hospital nutrition exam within one month of hire.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a liaison for the assigned inpatient care unit to ensure meal service, orders, and delivery needs are met.
• Responds to meal service related calls and pages from patients and helps resolve or refer problems.
• Interacts with doctors, nurses, dietitians, health care assistants and coordinators to ensure nutritional orders and dietary needs are met accurately and efficiently.
• Explains the Nutrition Care Services program to patients, collects preferences, records meal requests, and personally delivers each meal.
• Inputs all special nutrition requests into the nutrition software system in a timely manner for on-schedule delivery.
• Manages special requests and determines when to refer questions to nutrition care technicians, dietitians, or supervisors.
• Assists patients with nutrition selections compliant with their diet.
• May collect trays and clean the patient care unit galley after meals.
• May prepare patient areas for trays and deliver the appropriate tray to each patient.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Nutrition knowledge

Food service awareness

Tools

Nutrition software

Job description

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position provides exceptional patient service and nutritional care for patients in an inpatient care unit by making sure the patient's dietary needs are met. This position is not responsible for providing care to patients.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Why join University of Utah Health?

• Competitive pay
• Healthcare benefits starting on day one
• 401(k) retirement plan
• A work environment that values dedication, learning, and work-life balance

Benefits Overview: https://employment.utah.edu/benefits/ Parking Information: https://commuterservices.utah.edu/ Join our team and grow your career with us. Learn more about upcoming opportunities and events at uofuhealth.org/jobfairs.

What Happens Next

Your application will be under review. If selected to move forward, your resume may be shared with hiring managers for further consideration. A text or email is sent to you once your resume has been shared with the hiring manager for review. Please continue to check your email for updates from HR regarding your application status. Upon selection, candidates must complete all required pre-employment requirements, including reference checks, a background check, drug screening, and required immunizations.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Serves as a liaison for the assigned inpatient care unit to ensure that meal service, orders, and delivery needs are met.
• Responds to meal service related calls and pages from patients and helps to resolve or refers any problems to the appropriate individual.
• Interacts and coordinates with doctors, nurses, dietitians, health care assistants and health unit coordinators to ensure that nutritional orders are accurate and the patient's dietary needs are met accurately and efficiently.
• Interacts with the patient by explaining the Nutrition Care Services program, collects personal preferences, records meal requests, and personally delivers each meal of the day.
• Inputs all special nutrition requests and personal preferences into the nutrition software system correctly and in a timely manner so that all meals can be delivered on schedule.
• Manages special requests made by patients or their families and determines when to refer questions to nutrition care technicians, dietitians, or department supervisors.
• Assists patients with making nutrition selections that are compliant with their diet.
• May collect trays and clean patient care unit galley after meals.
• May prepare patient areas for trays prior to meals and the deliver the appropriate tray to each patient.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Demonstrated communication and human relations skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of nutrition in order to understand special diet orders.
• Ability to work as a team player and as an individual.
• Demonstrated knowledge of when to help other representatives who have a larger patient caseload.
• Ability to appropriately handle customer issues or complaints.

Required

Qualifications

• One year of customer service experience.
• One of the indicated food handling permits must be obtained within 30 days of employment.
• Incumbents assigned to patient care units must successfully complete a hospital provided nutrition exam within one month of hire.

Licenses Required

• One of the following
  • Current Utah Food Handler Permit.
  • Current Food Protection Manager certification, accredited by ANSI.
  • Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Preferred

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Food service experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving patients or objects, while providing patient care. This position may be standing and walking for sustained periods of time.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Color Determination, Lifting, Listening, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Walking