Diabetes Education and Clinical Nutrition Program Director

Responsibilities

• assessing patients
• educating patients
• managing programs

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY The incumbent is responsible to direct the Diabetes Education and Clinical Nutrition Program at Echo Cliffs Health Center. This entails the following: development and implementation of program goals and objectives with Echo Cliffs Medical Directors, and TCRHCC Director of Diabetes Education and Clinical Nutrition; planning and implementation of the Echo Cliffs diabetes self-management education (DSME) program; evaluation of the DSME program outcomes to direct continuous quality improvement efforts; maintenance of the diabetes registry;; and consulting on nutrition care to multiple departments involved in direct patient care. The incumbent provides case management services for a sub-population of patients with diabetes, e.g. newly-diagnosed, patients who are pregnant, diabetes in youth, uncontrolled T2DM, etc. Provides direct outpatient medical nutrition therapy to patients with and without diabetes, nutrition/diabetes case management services, and diabetes self-management training in both group and individual settings. glucometer and continuous glucose monitoring education. Incumbent participates in weekend/holiday rotating on-call schedule to provide medical nutrition therapy for TCRHCC inpatients, both with and without diabetes. Incumbent may also be called upon to provide MNT and DSME services at TCRHCC during the week as needed. This position is a Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm position.

Qualifications

Education

• Must have Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics

Certification:

• Must be a current Registered Dietitian in good standing with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
• Must have and maintain current Basic Life Support certification with the American Heart Association (AHA)
• Must have current state RD licensure and/or obtain a New Mexico State Registered Dietitian Licensure (LD) within 1 month of hire.

Experience

• Must have at least two (2) years of experience in clinical nutrition in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Must have at least two (2) years of experience in comprehensive diabetes self-management education.

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers. All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Positive working relationships with others; cooperating effectively in teams for the benefit of patient care

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.

• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints

• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences

• Effective verbal and written communication skills; exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are essential

• Ability to prioritize duties and work independently; must be self-motivated

• Experience with Microsoft Office and other computer applications

• Completion of and, above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job

• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job

• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job

• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading, or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

• MENTAL & PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENT

• The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• PHYSICAL

• Incumbent for prolonged periods of time (3/4 of the workday) will work alone, sitting at a computer using the keyboard and can hear normal speech in person and on the telephone as well as hearing overhead pages. Frequently (1/2 the workday) the incumbent will stand, walk and will have the ability to use far/near vision and see fine details. The incumbent on occasion will bend, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, maintain balance and lift/push/pull up to 24 lbs. They will also on occasion have the ability to use fine hand manipulation with simple and firm grasping, as well as the ability for color vision and depth perception.

• MENTAL

• The incumbent must have the ability to frequently handle a high degree of flexibility, concentration, and handle multiple priorities in stressful situations, as well as demonstrating a high degree of patience. On occasion, the incumbent must cope with high levels of stress, make decisions under high pressure, cope with anger/fear/hostility of others in calm manner, work in areas that are close and crowded and manage altercations. The incumbent may also on occasion adapt to shift work and accept a flexible schedule to meet unit needs.

• ENVIRONMENTAL

• Incumbent may be occasionally exposed to infectious diseases and extremes in temperature or humidity.

Responsibilities

• ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Provides outpatient medical nutrition therapy and diabetes self-management education.
• Performs individual patient needs assessment to evaluate intervention priorities. Assesses patient needs, medical condition, lab values, nutrition and weight status, self-management abilities, psychosocial concerns, learning factors, mental and emotional health status, access to health care resources, and glycemic control. Provides appropriate level and frequency of care for patients and their families as identified in the individual assessment.
• In collaboration with the patient, family, and health care team, to assist patient in creating realistic and appropriate patient centered goals based on needs assessment. Supports the patient and health care team in completing the intervention and meeting goals.
• Independently assures planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Echo Cliff Diabetes Education and Clinical Nutrition program, such as screening protocols, nutrition/diabetes policy and procedure, marketing, and performance improvement activities.
• Development and carries out SDPI grant objectives, activities, and budgets as it relates to SPHC diabetes treatment and prevention. Participates in the development of the TCRHCC Diabetes Education and Clinical Nutrition budgets as it relates to Echo Cliffs .
• Leads in the development of diverse interdisciplinary Echo Cliffs programs related to diabetes and obesity prevention and treatment among pediatric and adult patients.
• Leads diabetes self-management education in both individual and group settings utilizing the IHS “Balancing Your Life with Diabetes”, Beautiful Beginnings, Navajo Area Sweet Success and Association of Diabetes Care and

Education

• Specialist (ADCES) curricula.
• Tracks and reports productivity through patient contacts and outcomes on a daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly