Job Description

**This is an outpatient position that supports family medicine with a primary focus on diabetes and weight management. This position may require support at multiple facilities or via Telehealth.**

The Clinical Dietitian  reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Clinical Dietitian evaluates nutrition parameters and selects appropriate therapies to restore or maintain optimal nutrition status. They utilize clinical assessment skills to order (prescribe)/initiate, implement, or modify orders for diet or nutrition-related actions in collaboration with patients’ health care teams and in accordance to hospital privileging. The Clinical Dietitian collaborates with the health care team to provide high quality, cost effective nutrition care through advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.

Responsibilities:

Description

• Demonstrates strong nutrition knowledge and clinical skills in caring for patients of various acuities and complexities
• Demonstrates skills and knowledge needed to order/prescribe, or recommend nutrition therapies
• Utilizes evidence based knowledge and protocols appropriate to patient populations and diagnoses
• Confers and collaborates with health care team in the comprehensive care of patients
• Develops appropriate education systems for patients, families, and staff
• Collaborates with physician to identify and connect with patients in need of nutrition counseling
• Selects appropriate dietary, behavioral, and physical interventions
• Develops, presents, and modifies educational materials
• Evaluates effects of nutrition counseling, observes and notes patient’s response and progress, recommends adjustments and modifications
• Provides nutrition/lifestyle education and counseling for individuals and groups
• Trains staff/students in aspects of nutrition and patient care
• Actively participates in QAPI
• May perform other duties as assigned

Specific Performance Standards/Essential Functions:

Clinical

• Clinical Assessment of patients, including but not limited to medical diagnosis and history, lab values, diet history, medication, and other medical information to determine patient nutritional status, and appropriate plan of care and nutrition interventions
• Plan and prescribe appropriate nutrition therapy within scope of expertise and privileging for desired patient outcome
• Identify and initiate appropriate nutritional interventions:
  • Collaborate with healthcare team to align interventions with goals of care
  • Prescribe appropriate nutritional therapy in accordance with specified privileges:
    • Therapeutic diet, nutrition related labs, nutritional supplements, enteral support (tube feedings and modulars), parenteral support with common additives, including but not limited to electrolytes, vitamins/minerals, insulin
  • Interpret/discuss data regarding pharmacotherapy
  • Select appropriate feeding route and enteral/parenteral formula, including additional modulars
  • Teaches and counsels patients and families on appropriate nutrition therapy for disease state or prevention and wellness, desired outcomes and behavior objectives
  • Evaluates effectiveness/outcomes of intervention/therapies and modifies treatment/interventions as needed. Measures may include anthropometrics, changes in medical condition, and tolerance to therapies
  • Collaborates with home care providers/DMEs for prescribed nutritional support
• Attends medical rounds in areas of practice
• Documents in the medical record all care provided
• Consults with other disciplines as appropriate
• Directs patients to appropriate follow up care when needed
• Identifies and documents billable nutrition diagnosis with proper documentation
• Provides nutrition services to outpatient areas where applicable
  • Confirms diagnosis for Medical Nutrition Therapy
  • Documents as required to maximize reimbursement using EPIC in outpatient areas
  • Enters appropriate billing codes for patient visit
• Develops and presents community education programs and works with marketing and media as assigned.

Professional

• Demonstrates the following professional attributes:
  • Integrates research/evidence based knowledge into clinical expertise and decision making
  • Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation
  • Advocates for patients, families, coworkers, and community and nutrition professionals.

Leadership/Organization

• Serves as a patient advocate and role model for “Patients First”
• Participates in department and/or organization committees/task forces
• Identifies areas for quality monitoring and process improvement, and actively participates in project.

Education

• Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and families
• Precepts dietetic interns/graduate students and other staff
• Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty.

Research

• Actively participates in research opportunities
  • Assists in Nutrition Day research
  • Participates in department/organization QAPI

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelors of Science in Nutrition/Dietetics AND completion of the required nutrition classes to be eligible for and complete a Dietetic Internship as approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/Commission on Dietetic Registration. 
• Current registration as a dietitian with the Commission on Dietetics
• Current license as a Registered Dietitian with the State of Illinois
• Meets all organizational and department competencies for position and privileges

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Nutrition or related field
• > 1year of clinical practice

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.