Nutrition Care Patient Services Representative

Job Opportunity At University Of Utah Health

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission.

This position provides exceptional patient service and nutritional care for patients in an inpatient care unit by making sure the patient's dietary needs are met. This position is not responsible for providing care to patients. The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities include serving as a liaison for the assigned inpatient care unit to ensure that meal service, orders, and delivery needs are met. Responding to meal service related calls and pages from patients and helping to resolve or refer any problems to the appropriate individual. Interacting and coordinating with doctors, nurses, dietitians, health care assistants and health unit coordinators to ensure that nutritional orders are accurate and the patient's dietary needs are met accurately and efficiently.

Interacting with the patient by explaining the Nutrition Care Services program, collecting personal preferences, recording meal requests, and personally delivering each meal of the day. Inputting all special nutrition requests and personal preferences into the nutrition software system correctly and in a timely manner so that all meals can be delivered on schedule. Managing special requests made by patients or their families and determining when to refer questions to nutrition care technicians, dietitians, or department supervisors. Assisting patients with making nutrition selections that are compliant with their diet. May collect trays and clean patient care unit galley after meals. May prepare patient areas for trays prior to meals and deliver the appropriate tray to each patient.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include the ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above. Demonstrated communication and human relations skills. Demonstrated knowledge of nutrition in order to understand special diet orders. Ability to work as a team player and as an individual. Demonstrated knowledge of when to help other representatives who have a larger patient caseload. Ability to appropriately handle customer issues or complaints.

Qualifications required include one year of customer service experience. One of the indicated food handling permits must be obtained within 30 days of employment. Incumbents assigned to patient care units must successfully complete a hospital provided nutrition exam within one month of hire. Licenses required include one of the following: current Utah Food Handler Permit or current Food Protection Manager certification, accredited by ANSI. Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Preferred qualifications include knowledge of medical terminology and food service experience.

Working conditions and physical demands include the ability to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation. This position involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving patients or objects, such as medical equipment, while providing patient care. This position may be standing and walking for sustained periods of time.

Physical requirements include carrying, lifting, listening, manual dexterity, pulling and/or pushing, speaking, standing, stooping and crouching, and walking. Multi-lingual candidates welcomed.