Registered Dietitian

The Rockbridge Area Health Center (RAHC) seeks an enthusiastic and dedicated Registered Dietitian. The Registered Dietitian (RD) is a key member of the health care and MATERNAL HUB teams. The RD possesses clinical expertise in care related to chronic disease management and nutritional counseling. In collaboration with the physician an interdisciplinary team, the Registered Dietician/Nutritionist develops and implements an individualized care plan designed to promote the patient’s understanding and management of their condition, optimize quality of life, and improve clinical outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Credentials, and Experience 

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from an accredited facility is required.

Registered and in good standing with the Commission of Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist required.

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification with hands on practicum required.

Three years’ experience caring for individuals with diabetes is preferred.

Certification by the National Certification board for Diabetes Care and Education (CDCES) is preferred.

Valid driver’s license preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to use assessment skills and perception to determine the needs of the patient while working with the medical team.

Ability to understand and respond effectively and with sensitivity to special populations served by RAHC. Special populations include, but are not limited to, those defined by race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, sexual orientation, economic standing, disability status, migrant, homelessness, seasonal workers, and the uninsured.

Knowledge of HIPAA confidentiality requirements and ability to maintain strict confidentiality with sensitive medical information and foster an ethical work environment.

Able to handle the administrative work to include scheduling appointments, directing phone calls, documenting in electronic health record, and getting patients where they need to be.

Ability to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate educational programs and materials to perform essential functions.

Bilingual skills are a plus.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Interview patients and families, which may include obtaining a diet history, exercise habits, reviewing emotional/social issues as part of the diet counseling process and document any pertinent information obtained in the Electronic Health Record.

Provide chronic disease self-management guidance and education to patients, including those with Diabetes and adolescents. Develop individualized education plans for patients in collaboration with medical providers and monitor adherence to plan. Individualized education plans shall consider different cultural, physical, cognitive, and literacy levels of patients and families and meet the evolving needs of patients.

Using population health methods, proactively identify and maintain a panel of patients to ensure implementation of best practices for care and achievement of quality measures.

Identify individual social and emotional barriers (such as depression) to compliance with treatment plan and refer patient to appropriate team member. Utilize all resource material for care coordination for uninsured/underinsured patients and facilitate referrals to community services as appropriate.

Plan, develop, and implement education strategies for patients throughout their life span along with their families and caregivers, in collaboration with the other members of the patient care team.

Provide nutritional counseling for weight control, diabetes management and other chronic conditions and assist patients with meal planning.

Assist medical provider in assessing need and frequency of self-glucose monitoring and educate patients accordingly. Monitor adherence to plan. Assist medical provider in evaluating blood glucose logs in conjunction with diet diaries at provider visits.

Instruct patients and family members on medication safety including preventing, recognizing, and treating hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Teach how to administer insulin. Assist medical provider in adjusting oral medication and insulin doses according to blood glucose measurements, dietary habits, and individual barriers to care.

Work with patients and the care team to ensure patients have access to medications.

Assist patient care team in monitoring patient’s care, ensuring patient gets timely recommended preventive and monitoring tests, treatments, and referrals per care guidelines.

Facilitate coordination of care across specialty care, facility-based care, and community organizations.

Assist in reviewing, developing, and implementation of clinical practice guidelines, policies and procedures for chronic disease and diabetes health education guidelines.

Serve as the Diabetes Self Management Education/Training (DSME/T) program quality coordinator or quality coordinator contact.

About RAHC:

The Rockbridge Area Health Center (RAHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in the beautiful Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Our mission is to promote and provide access to comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable healthcare to improve the health and well-being of the greater community.

Our team enjoys great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 8 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, generous paid time off that starts to accrue on your first day, and a 403(b)-retirement option. This position will have a 4/10 hour schedule and may offer support to other sites as needed based on business needs.

If interested, please apply today by submitting your cover letter and resume. Upload all materials into the cover letter and resume submission fields. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Visit www.rockahc.org to learn more about Rockbridge Area Health Center. For questions about the application process, please contact Human Resources by calling (540) 464-8700 or [email protected] EOE