Dietary Technician

The Dietetic Technician obtains all information necessary for nutritional care planning. Interviews all new admissions for a dietary history and records all information. Writes monthly progress notes on appropriate residents’ and ensures that care plans are implemented. Evaluates effectiveness of dietary interventions. Monitors meal intakes on all residents and calculates food intakes when necessary. Verifies physician diet orders or changes and documents in the medical record.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

·Initiate all paperwork on new admissions for nutritional assessment and the medical record. Visit resident within 24 hours, when possible, for diet history. Review chart for pertinent nutritional information. Record necessary information. Notify kitchen of likes/dislikes, beverage preferences and any food allergies as needed.

·Write discharge summaries for residents who are discharged to another facility or home.

·On a quarterly basis all resident are to have a progress note completed along with an MDS, dehydration risk assessment and update the Care Plan. The progress note reflects the residents’ progress towards their Care Plan goals. A complete review of the medical records, food intake and nourishment logs, lab reports, etc. need to be included.

·Performs meal rounds regularly at all meals during shift. Observe residents during mealtimes. Record pertinent observations in medical record.

·Review all monthly weights for trends and significant changes.

·Verify all physicians’ diet orders and document any changes on a daily basis in the medical record.

·Screen all lab reports and record all pertinent information and/or recommendations in the medical record and on the care plan.

·Prepare the Dietary Monthly Nutritional Monitoring Sheet prior to the Registered Dietitian’s scheduled visit as appropriate.

·Ensure that all of the Registered Dietitians’ recommendations are followed up on in a timely manner.

·Keep Registered Dietitian/Food Service Director informed of ongoing resident problems/concerns in writing.

·Demonstrates knowledge of age specific development factors of adult and geriatric residents.

·Communicate all nutritional recommendations that must have Physician’s orders and/or any resident problems or concerns with the appropriate Licenses Nurse and Director of Nursing in writing as needed.

 ·Attends and Chairs (in the RD’s absence) the weekly nutrition/hydration monitoring committee and records all pertinent information in the medical record, care plan and records in the minutes.