Diet Technician

Job Summary

Diet Technicians will work on assigned units and provide services that include helping patients make menu selections. Duties include: Receiving patient information regarding allergies, likes, dislikes, meal choices and entering this data into the Diet Office program, processing data to provide tray line with correct meal choices for patients. Diet Technicians are a part of the nutritional care team by referring patient needs to the Registered Dietitians as indicated and ensuring foodservice satisfaction goals are achieved by providing meals that are accurate and delivered at the right time and temperature. Executes other related duties as assigned by management. Demonstrates knowledge and skills to appropriately communicate and interact with patients, families, and visitors of all age groups while being sensitive to their cultural and religious beliefs.

Performance Expectation

• Exhibits a friendly, caring attitude to patients when taking menu selections.
• Helps patients understand their menu selections and work with nursing to ensure their orders comply with nutritional requirements and restrictions.
• Obtains patients’ menu selections prior to each meal
• Offers alternatives to menu as allowed on prescribed diet in accordance with food allergies, cultural, ethnic and religious preferences when patient inquires or needs additional selections.
• Ensures and maintains proper food quality and temperature.
• Maintains accurate and current information for each patient on assigned units.
• Demonstrates the ability to organize work assignments for tray line staff
• Demonstrates the ability to be a tray line leader, observing meal trays for accuracy, checking food temperatures, and logging outgoing tray carts accurately
• Ensures and maintains proper food quality and temperature
• Demonstrates the ability to assist with the day to day operations of patient meal services as needed
• Maintains accurate and current information for each patient on assigned units
• Maintains patient confidentiality
• Contributes to patient satisfaction goals by providing quality service.
• Complies with federal, state and local health department sanitation regulations and department policies.
• Utilizes equipment in performing job functions according to department procedures.
• Demonstrates the ability to use department software (Computriton and EPIC)
• Follows FGH infection control policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates willingness to assist in other areas as needed.

Qualifications

Education/Skills:

High school diploma or GED required. Computer technical skills to operate hospital systems. ServSafe Certification preferred.

Work Experience:

Must be able to type, use computers/software programs, and write legibly. Must have working knowledge to handle office equipment. Will provide on-the-job training.

Mental Demands:

Must have average clerical aptitude and be able to do simple mathematical calculations. Visual acuity required for computer terminals and printouts. Ability to hear soft verbal communications. Must have strong communication skills to maintain positive, professional interaction with patients, family members, nursing personnel and co-workers. Tact, courtesy, and care must be used in dealing with patients and family members. Must be prompt in providing requests and clinical nutrition assigned tasks. Must be customer focused and practice value system of organization. Considerable initiative and judgment are involved in handling general/confidential information. Must have an understanding of basic nutrition and diet composition.