Patient Dining Associate

Med Center Health; Bowling Green (KY); On-site; USD 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Med Center Health is seeking a patient food service associate to support meal service for assigned units. You will take patient menu selections, assemble and deliver trays, and respond to patient needs with a friendly, caring attitude.

You will work with Dietitians and Nursing staff to ensure diet orders are followed, accommodate allergies and preferences, and maintain a clean, sanitary work environment according to MSDS sheets and regulations.

Qualifications

• Previous institutional or fast food kitchen experience preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Takes patient menu selections prior to each meal. Delivers trays, inquires during catering rounds, and retrieves trays. Responds to patient needs at all times and reports issues to supervisor as appropriate.
• Complies with dietary restrictions on therapeutic and modified diets; communicates with Dietitian and Nutrition Tech to ensure accuracy and patient safety.
• Offers alternatives to menu within prescribed diet, considering allergies and cultural/religious preferences.
• Assembles trays according to patient menu on tray tickets in a timely and accurate manner.
• Interacts with Nursing personnel to ensure diet prescriptions are accurate and patients’ food needs are met.
• Completes catering rounds after passing trays to inquire if patient needs anything; retrieves trays shortly after rounds.
• Maintains accurate and current information for each patient on assigned unit(s).
• Communicates patient-related problems/concerns to appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
• Adheres to federal, state and local health and sanitation regulations; maintains a clean and sanitary work environment.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Provides patient food services to assigned group of patient care units, e.g., menu selections, tray assembly, tray delivery and pick up, special requests and needs, and in-between meal food delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

Work Experience

Previous institutional or fast food kitchen experience preferred.

Education

High school graduate or equivalent preferred.

Certifications/Licensure

None

Job Specific Performance Standards

The duties listed below are a summary of the major essential functions of this position. The position may require other duties, both major and minor, that are not mentioned, and specific functions may change from time to time.

• Takes patient menu selections prior to each meal. Exhibits a friendly, caring attitude to patients when introducing the Catering to You Program. Delivers trays, inquires during catering rounds, and retrieves trays. Responsive to patient’s needs at all times. Resolves patient concerns or complaints immediately and/or reports needed assistance to supervisor as appropriate.
• Complies with dietary restrictions on therapeutic and modified diets to ensure optimal food preferences are met within guidelines of diet order limitations. Interacts and communicates with Dietitian and Nutrition Tech to ensure accuracy and patient safety.
• Offers alternatives to menu as allowed on prescribed diet in accordance with food allergies and sensitivities, cultural, ethnic and religious preferences, when patient inquires or needs additional selections.
• Assembles trays according to patient menu on tray tickets in a timely and accurate manner.
• Interacts with Nursing personnel to ensure patients’ diet prescriptions are accurate, and patients’ food needs are met.
• Completes catering rounds after passing trays to inquire if patient needs anything. Retrieves trays from patients’ rooms shortly after completing rounds.
• Maintains accurate and current information for each patient on assigned unit(s).
• Communicates any patient related problems/concerns to appropriate personnel, in a timely manner following departmental procedures.
• Complies with federal, state and local health and sanitation regulations and department sanitation procedures.
• Maintains a clean and sanitary work environment. Identifies and utilizes cleaning chemicals following directions recommended by manufacturers and per MSDS sheets. Maintains a clean and sanitary work environment. Identifies and utilizes cleaning chemicals following directions recommended by manufacturers and per MSDS sheets.