Dietary Clerk

Job Summary: 

Under the general supervision of the Manager of Nutrition Services, the Dietary Clerk is responsible for the facilitating communication to nutritional services staff to ensure quality foods are provided in timely and efficient production for consumers. Diet Clerks are responsible for maintaining high standards of communication and customer service, and shall perform other duties as assigned by the Manager of Nutritional Services.

Job Relationships:

1. Directly responsible to the Manager of Nutritional Services. 

1. Works closely with hospital district medical staff, clerical staff, and coordinators as well as internal and external customers.

Occupational Hazards:

Works in the general hospital setting. May be exposed to blood, body fluids, or tissues as well as patients in varying stages of infectious states. 

Samples of Duties:. 

• Tracks and communicates nutritionally relevant information and/or reports to nutritional services staff and/or medical staff.
• Responsible for secretarial role within department, answering phones, responding to emails, and maintaining inter and intradepartmental communication channels.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of hospitals dietary manual and therapeutic diets. Demonstrates ability to apply dietary recommendations to food production and/or observation.
• Creates patient tray tags for meals, nourishments, and supplements as needed.
• Carefully follow mealtime schedules, collecting and documenting meal service data.
• Performs dietary patient interviews, collecting pertinent information for meal service and explaining hospital menu system to patients and/or visitors, and medical staff as appropriate.
• Maintains up-to-date patient profile cards, alerting nutritional staff with diet order changes and patient needs throughout the day.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of the equipment and programs in the dietary department needed for their job, including but not limited to Microsoft Office products, navigating the internet and other hospital software systems.
• Utilizes critical thinking and time management skills to maintain optimal patient care and department workflow.
• Assists nutritional services staff with tray preparation and delivery, or other tasks as needed.
• Presents clean, appropriate appearance in adherence to departmental dress and safety requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Exhibits knowledge of and follows District policy/procedures and applicable regulatory guidance. 
• Exhibits knowledge of and ability to follow attendance, punctuality, time documentation and scheduling practices.
• Ability to organize and prioritize time and tasks to achieve a well-coordinated work effort and to effectively meet productivity standards.
• Upholds HIPAA/HITECH regulations and used PHI strictly in a manner that is compliant with the intent of these laws.
• Abides by the guidance and provisions of the NIHD Compliance Program. 

Skills/Abilities to:

• Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
• Adaptability - Ability to adapt to change in the workplace.
• Communication, Oral and Written - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word and to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
• Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.
• Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.
• Working Under Pressure - Ability to complete assigned tasks under stressful situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required: 

 Education: 

• High school graduate/GED required.

Experience:

• Two or more years of experience in food preparation in restaurant or hospital dietary preferred.

Certification: 

• California Food Handler: Must be in possession of a California Food Handler Card or be able to obtain one within 30 days from the date of hire.