Staff Dietitian

About Us

Loretto Hospital is a safety-net hospital that serves more than 33,000 patients each year from Chicago’s Austin and surrounding communities.

Established in 1923 as a not-for-profit community-focused healthcare provider, Loretto offers its community a unique patient-centered healthcare delivery system that promotes general wellness and education.

The hospital staff are committed to providing the best possible medical care in a holistic, safe and comfortable resident environment.

By empowering patients with knowledge and resources, Loretto Hospital strives to cultivate a culture of proactive medical management within the community, with the goal of increasing the quality of life for patients and community residents.

Summary

Under the supervision of the Director of Nutritional Services, the Staff Dietitian meets the nutritional needs of individuals and groups through active participation as a member of the health care team. This individual is responsible for teaching sound food and nutritional principles in accordance with recommended standards

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Services

• Participates in patient screening for malnutrition.

• Interviews patients for diet histories, preferences and tolerances to prescribed diet.
• Participates as an active member of the Discharge Planning Team.
• Counsels individuals and families in nutritional principles, dietary plans, food selection and economics adapting plans to the individual.
• Acts as a liaison between patient, nutritional and medical staff.
• Obtains pertinent information from different age groups of patients and appropriately interprets information for assessment.
• Treats and/or refers patients to a range of treatment services that are age appropriate
• Provides coverage for nutrition support patients during absence of Director.

Nutritional Care Coordination

• Assists the Director in the assessment of nutritional status and needs by collecting anthropometrics data, laboratory data, medications, IV therapy, enteral or parenteral nutritional support therapy related to diagnosis.
• Assesses and calculates calorie, protein, vitamins, minerals and fluid requirements for patients at nutritional risk and makes appropriate recommendations based on need.
• Consults with attending or consulting physician regarding appropriate therapy and nutritional needs of the patient and appropriateness of dietary prescription.
• Develops and implements a plan of care for nutritional high-risk patients based on assessment of needs and correlates with other health care team members.
• Evaluates nutritional care and provides follow-up for continuity of care with regard to age specific requirements.
• Assists the Director in evaluating and developing care plans and assigning appropriate duties.

Education

• Responsible for in-service education and training program for the department

• Provides group classes for nutrition related topics.
• Compiles or develops educational material and uses them as aids in nutrition education.

Hospital Compliance

• Records all pertinent information related to patient’s nutritional care in the medical record using soap format and nutritional kardexes

• Maintains records of nutritional counseling.
• Communicates with the Director and other members of the department regarding food service problems.
• Operates assigned equipment and performs all procedures in a safe manner.
• Evaluates environmental safety and provides an environment that is safe based on age and developmental status.
• Follows established emergency, infection control and/or universal precautions procedures as required.
• Maintains work area and equipment according to standards and policies.
• Attends mandatory in-services related to safety and/or infection control.
• Supports and participates in department quality improvement activities.

Customer Service

• Provides courteous service to internal/external customers in all activities.
• Offers assistance to all internal/external customers as appropriate and/or refers customer to appropriate individuals or department.
• Communicates in a professional manner emphasizing objectivity and non-judgmental viewpoints.
• Assists in solving customer problems in a cooperative manner.

Perform other duties as assigned

Compliance Responsibilities

• Understands and adheres to Loretto Hospital’s compliance standards as they appear in the Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state and Hospital regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Ensures that the staff are trained and evaluated on their knowledge of and adherence to compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Job Duties” are essential job functions.

Job Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and/or dietetics
• Must have current Dietitian Nutritionist License for the State of Illinois
• At least six months of related experience required.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear, and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.

Why Loretto

Competitive Compensation: Along with a competitive salary, Loretto Hospital offers a comprehensive, competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, retirement savings plans, and paid time off.

Career Development: Loretto Hospital is a vibrant community of professionals dedicated to administering excellent patient care. Whether you are pursuing a career in allied health, support services, clinical or nursing support, or professional administration, Loretto Hospital is a tremendous place to grow as a health care professional.

Work Environment

As a not-for-profit, community-focused hospital, Loretto Hospital is truly a place where patients come first. We are seeking team members who not only support our mission, but who are customer service-driven and who desire to enhance the patient experience.