NUTRITION ASSISTANT 2

Where You’ll Work

Founded in 1961, Dignity Health - Arroyo Grande Community Hospital is a 65-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Arroyo Grande, California. Serving over 90,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including, emergency care, and orthopedics. Additionally, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center, and has the only inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Center between Salinas and Santa Barbara.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

Job Summary and Responsibilities

• Prepares and serves food within guidelines of menu and dietary requirements using required kitchen utensils and equipment. Maintains knowledge of recipe ingredients to respond to food allergy questions or requests.
• Follows healthcare foodservice industry standards, regulations, guidelines and procedures including monitoring and maintaining food temperatures during cooking, holding, and storage processes. Avoids cross-contamination of foods and adheres to personal hygiene requirements. Maintains proper labeling of food products and ensures storage of food equipment, and machinery per regulations and facility guidelines.
• Follows organizational standards and guidelines for a high quality patient and customer experience. Ensures proper meal portioning and an aesthetically pleasing presentation. Provides service recovery efforts and escalates to leadership as needed.
• May be responsible for one or more of the following:
  • Following therapeutic diet modifications and guidelines including allergy restrictions for all patient meal trays, nourishment, snacks and supplements
  • Printing, providing and following production tool and/or electronic meal tallies/differentials for food preparation
  • Explaining basic therapeutic diet orders and menus and responding to questions from patients and family members. Escalating additional patient nutrition questions or needs to appropriate clinical support team members.
  • Collecting patient food preferences and ensuring compliance with prescribed diet orders. Distributing food preferences to kitchen for menu planning in a timely manner.
  • Operating electronic diet office software and tools following established procedures and protocols.
  • Navigating electronic health records to access patient diet orders and nutritional reports.
  • Performing general cleaning of equipment and work areas (e.g., cleaning the tray line, equipment, coolers, office area, and emptying trash cans, etc.)

Job Requirements

• One (1) year foodservice experience and
• High School Graduate General Studies, upon hire or
• High School GED General Studies, upon hire or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience
• None, upon hire