Job Information
Highland General Hospital AHD Diet Aide in Alameda, California
SUMMARY: Under supervision, provides support for Dietitians. Performs routine aspects of menu selection such as checking the correctness of prepared meals, comparing prepared meals with menu cards and processing diet orders and changes. May select meals for patients who cannot select meals for themselves and who are not at great nutritional risk. Performs related duties as required.
DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification, however, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.
Follows up on meals served to patients to establish whether meals are being satisfactorily prepared, served, etc.; acts to correct complaints regarding quantity or quality of food served; may work as the checker on kitchen tray lines checking temperature, appearance of meals and contents of food trays to insure that diet restrictions as specified by menu cards are being followed.
Keeps records of patient's diets, actual meals and foods served to patient areas and food productions sheets; maintains inventory of dietary office's supplies, forms, and menus; files discharge patient profile cards.
Prepares patients' meal slips according to the current diet order on Diet Census before each meal. Reviews the menus of patients who select their own meals but who are on restricted diets, to insure that they stay within their restrictions; refers questions or complex problems to Dietitians for guidance and/or resolution; distributes and picks up menus from patients who select their own meals; may make ward rounds each day to check diet restrictions for new patients or may interview patients to determine their food preferences.
Selects food items for patients who are unable to select their own meals; using preprinted menus and meal patterns (written by dietitians in consultation with physicians); selects food items for patients on restricted diets so as to comply with the specified restrictions; selects food items for patients on regular, calorie-controlled, salt-free, low-protein, low cholesterol, low-fat, fluid-restricted, soft, pureed, or bland diets, using preprinted menus and meal patterns; modifies food items for patients per Dietitians.
Takes new diet orders over the phone or from a computer; enters new patients in diet rands and bed rands; enters patients likes and dislikes in diet rands; fills out appropriate meal slips and nourishment cards so that patients receive meals and snacks; tallies food choices of all patients so that adequate amounts of food items can be prepared to meet the demand.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education: High School Diploma or equivalent. Minimum Experience: One year working in a Healthcare Food Service Department as a Food Service Worker in addition to the successful completion of one course in Diet Therapy and one course in Medical Terminology; OR six months working as a Diet Clerk (or similar position) in a Healthcare Food Service Department, preferably with successful completion of one course in Diet Therapy and one course in Medical Terminology; OR possession of an AA degree or B.S. degree in a related field.
