Patient Dining Associate (Nutrition Services)

United Health Services, Inc.; Village of Johnson City (NY); On-site; USD 23,000 - 31,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403(b) retirement plan

Flexible spending accounts

Paid time off accrual

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job summary

United Health Services (UHS) seeks a Dining Assistant/Room Service Associate to support patient meals and daily service operations. The role connects patients with care teams, ensuring meals meet dietary needs and are delivered safely and warmly.

You will assist with menu selections, process orders, and help maintain sanitation, supplies, and documentation in a team-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Customer-focused and detail-oriented.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Up to 1 year of customer/patient-facing experience.
• Up to 1 year of healthcare experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Deliver patient meals accurately and courteously through the room service program, ensuring proper tray placement and supporting patient comfort and satisfaction.
• Assist patients and family members with menu selections using approved scripting and responding to questions in a compassionate and respectful manner.
• Measure and record patient’s intake information as required by physician orders and nursing standards of care.
• Utilize the room service computerized scanning system to track meal status and ensure timely, accurate delivery.

Skills

Customer-focused

Detail-oriented

Team-oriented

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Position Overview

At United Health Services (UHS), our Dining Assistants and Room Service Associates play a vital role in creating a positive and personalized patient experience. As a key member of the Nutrition Services team, you will serve as a connection between patients and their care team, helping ensure meals are delivered accurately, safely, and in accordance with individual dietary needs and preferences. Through compassionate interactions, you will support UHS’s commitment to exceptional patient care, respect, and service excellence.

In this role, you will work directly with patients, families, nursing staff, and fellow team members to assist with menu selections, process meal orders, and provide timely meal service. Whether interacting with patients at the bedside, over the phone, or during meal delivery, you will help create a welcoming environment that promotes comfort, healing, and satisfaction throughout the patient’s stay.

The ideal candidate is customer-focused, detail-oriented, and passionate about helping others. In addition to supporting patient meal service, you will contribute to daily food service operations by maintaining sanitation and food safety standards, stocking supplies, completing required documentation, and collaborating with others to ensure high-quality service. If you enjoy working in a team-oriented environment where every interaction makes a difference, we invite you to join UHS and help improve the health of the communities we serve.

Primary Department, Division, or Unit:

Primary Work Shift:

Evening

Compensation Range:

$17.05 - $22.17 per hour, depending on experience

You will be eligible for benefits if you are hired into a regular position with at least 24 scheduled weekly hours.

Schedule Options

• Per Diem and Part-Time opportunities available
• Evening shift: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Flexible scheduling
• 2-3 evenings per week
• Weekend and holiday rotation as needed

Job Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Deliver patient meals accurately and courteously through the room service program, ensuring proper tray placement and supporting patient comfort and satisfaction
• Assistpatients and family members with menu selections using approved scripting and responding to questions in a compassionate and respectful manner
• Measure and record patient’s intake information as required by physician orders and nursing standards of care
• Utilize the room service computerized scanning system to track meal status and ensuretimely,accuratedelivery
• Retrieve soiled trays from patient rooms and nursing units, inspecting for patient belongings, medications, or medical devices
• Deliver supplies and nourishment items to nursing units, including preparing nutritional snacks and monitoring inventory levels of supplements and tube feeding supplies

Scope and Impact:

• Contribute directly to patient experience, nutrition services operations, and interdisciplinary teamwork through reliable service delivery
• Communicate with nursing staffregardingmeal status, patient needs, and service concerns to support coordinated care
• Perform assigned duties under general supervision with accountability for accuracy, safety, and timeliness

Compliance and Professional:

• Maintain a clean and safe work environment by following proper food handling, sanitation, and infection prevention practices
• Record food temperatures and complete required Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and safety documentation
• Complete required training and competency validations within established timelines
• Safeguard sensitive data by following established security policies and procedures, using systems responsibly, and promptly reporting potential security incidents, risks, or policy violations
• As applicable to your role, supportcybersecurityand data protection requirements throughout the supplier lifecycle by coordinating vendor risk assessments,monitoringthird-party compliance, and promptly reporting identified supply chain or cybersecurity risks

Additional Expectations:

• Assistwith dish room operations, cleaning carts and equipment, restocking supplies, and performing other duties as assigned
• Demonstrate UHS Values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork, and Innovation in all daily work and interactions
• Execute responsibilitiesin accordance withorganizational policies, procedures, and applicable regulations
• Performadditionalresponsibilities asrequiredto meet department and organizational needs

Position Qualifications

Preferred:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Up to 1 year of related experience in a role or field that provides transferable skills or knowledge relevant to the position
• Up to 1 year of customer/patient-facing experience directly interacting and communicating with the public
• Up to 1 year of technical/systems experience using specialized tools, software, or equipmentrequiredfor the role
• Up to 1 year or healthcare experience working in the healthcare industry in any job function

Why You’ll Love Working at UHS

At United Health Services (UHS), we believe every connection—to patients, to purpose, to each other—makes a difference. That’s why we’re intentional about supporting our team in ways that go beyond the job. Whether through meaningful benefits, personal growth, or fun along the way, we’re here to help you thrive in work and life.

A Culture of Connection – We support each other like family and create space for every voice to be heard. Engagement Councils, peer recognition, and initiatives like Walk in my Shoes for senior leaders are just a few ways we foster belonging and collaboration. Outside of work, we stay connected through team events like trivia, trunk-or-treat, volunteer days, our staff choir, or seasonal celebrations.

Comprehensive Benefits for Life & Family – We offer medical, dental, and vision coverage starting the first of the month after hire for employees working 24+ hours/week. With flexible plan options and coverage tiers, you can choose what fits your life best. Additional perks include discounted childcare through Bright Horizons and voluntary benefits like pet insurance, legal services, and identity theft protection.

Well-Being & Financial Security – From day one, PTO starts accruing so you can take time to recharge. We support your long-term wellness with a 403(b) retirement plan and company match, flexible spending accounts, access to financial advisors, and up to $400/year in wellness rewards. When life gets tough, we’re here with 24/7 EAP counseling, virtual mental health support, a food pantry, PTO donation program, and professional attire through the Classy Closet.

Growth That Moves with You – With access to 100,000+ online courses, leadership programs, tuition reimbursement, clinical ladders, and internal mobility, we help you grow wherever your passion leads. We also continuously review compensation to ensure market competitiveness and internal equity, so you can feel confident your work is valued and rewarded fairly.

A Place to Call Home – Located in New York’s Southern Tier, UHS offers more than a career—we offer a lifestyle. Enjoy four-season recreation, affordable living, top-rated schools, minor league sports, craft brews, a close-knit community, and more, all within reach of the Finger Lakes, the Catskills, and major Northeast cities.

About United Health Services

United Health Services (UHS) is a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system in New York’s Southern Tier comprising four hospitals, long-term care and home care services, and physician practices in Broome and surrounding counties. UHS provides healthcare and medical services for two-thirds of the region’s population, produces $1.3 billion a year in total economic impact, and boasts a workforce of more than 6,300 employees and providers.

At UHS, our work is guided by our Values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork, and Innovation. Whether you provide direct patient care or support behind the scenes, you are part of a shared purpose: to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Every employee plays a meaningful role in fulfilling our mission—we’d love for you to consider joining us!

United Health Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

United Health Services, Inc. and the members of the UHS System neither are affiliated with, sponsored, endorsed nor approved by, nor otherwise associated with, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), UHS of Delaware, Inc. nor their affiliates, which can be found at www.uhsinc.com.