Registered Dietitian

Service Delivery Requirements

Under the direction of the Institution’s CEO/CME or designee, the Registered Dietitian shall provide services as permitted within the scope of practice for Registered Dietitian in accordance with Institution policies and procedures. Registered Dietitian duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Under the direction/supervision of the Institution’s CEO/CME or designee, the Registered Dietitian shall assist and advise clinical personnel on special nutritional needs within the scope of practice for a Registered Dietitian in the State of California.
• Plan dietary intervention and strategies; attend interdisciplinary team conferences; monitor and document nutritional needs and goals; may accept or transmit verbal or electronically transmitted orders from physicians consistent with an established protocol to implement medical nutrition therapy; orders medical laboratory tests related to medical nutrition therapy within established protocols; interpret prescription diets; plan regular and special therapeutic diets; establish menus and recipes for use by food production personnel; authorize substitution or modification of diets; plan and conduct training programs for facility staff, clients, patients and others; and adhere to food safety and infection control standards.
• Conduct and complete within seventy-two (72) hours of physician’s order, nutrition assessment by consulting with patient/youth, evaluating their nutritional needs, and provide nutritional counseling, as needed, when referred by a physician. The Registered Dietitian shall acknowledge that patient/youth may include diabetics, renal, hypertensive, HIV positive, and acute/chronic illness.
• Collect information on patient/youth nutritional history.
• Participate in committees relating to nutrition, food service, bioethics, performance improvement/quality assurance and other issues.
• Instruct institutional food service employees on the preparation and distribution of medical diets and provide dietary staff with alternative food product suggestions or allowed/acceptable food substitutions as needed.
• Provide follow-up consultations with patient/youth as needed or as ordered by a physician.
• Maintain professional working relationship between Food Services, Correctional Healthcare Services staff, and custodial staff.
• Comply with and practice universal safety precautions.
• Maintain security policy at all times.
• Maintain a safe work environment at all times.
• Monitor the clinic dietary service program in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Correctional Treatment Center (CTC), and/or Licensed Hospital to ensure compliance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, SNF/CTC Dietary Services requirements and ensures inpatient area dietary menus are current in accordance with regulations, policies and procedures.
• Prepare written dietary service status reports each month, including assessments, follow-ups completed, and recommendations for dietary policies and procedures.