Reports to the Department Manager. Primarily responsible for outpatient diabetes education in collaboration with multidisciplinary team and the referring provider. May also provides medical nutrition therapy services to patients and/or families including assessment of nutritional status, nutrition care planning, counseling and evaluation. Interacts with other health care team members in information exchange for planning and delivering appropriate patient care. Provides diabetes education to patient and staff. Practices under the guideline of the ‘Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitians in Diabetes Care’ published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Is qualified and may serve as a resource for hospital staff.
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Provides outpatient diabetes and self-management training and education to type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes patients. Education includes, but is not limited to, signs/symptoms and respective treatments for hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, DKA, HHNK, and sick day therapies, Glucometer instruction, Insulin pump education and continuous glucose monitoring instructions.
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Plans, develops, and implements individual and group diabetes education for adults, pediatrics, and their families and caregivers.
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Provides medical nutrition therapy and nutritional counseling for weight control and disease management.
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Coordinates and integrates clinical aspects of dietetics to provide quality nutrition care to outpatient clientele.
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Provides nutrition assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to assigned patients. Identifies and designs interventions which take into account patient needs related to age, cultural background, religious affiliation, medical status, and lifestyle. Interfaces with other members of the healthcare team for improved patient outcomes. Meets departmental standards for timeliness and documentation.
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Delivers patient education as needed or as directed by the provider.
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Performs assessments and data collections, establishes outcome criteria; obtains, reviews, and analyzes information in collaboration with patients, family members, and health care team members.
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Develops collaborative relationships with other departments, services, and community health care agencies to facilitate and support quality diabetes care. Provides training to the inpatient nursing staff on assessed needs related to diabetes education.
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Attends outreach activities such as health fairs for diabetes screening and health education.
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Evaluates the diabetes and health education program on a continuing basis; assesses teaching methods and education material for both staff and families of patients.
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Monitors and evaluates short and long-term patient responses to therapeutic interventions in collaboration with providers; provides and maintains necessary follow-up for patients and families.
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Trains and educates nursing staff in diabetes and health clinical procedures; coordinates in-service training, continuing education, and other related diabetes and health clinical training.
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Educates and follows patients with diabetes for control of blood sugar, lipids, renal function and prevention of diabetes complications.
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Instructs patients and family members on how to administer insulin, self-monitor blood glucose, and medication education.
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Participates in Shared Medical Appointments for patients with Diabetes in partnership with the providers of Elliot Endocrinology Associates and other Elliot Physician Network.
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Assists in the development of policies and procedures for diabetes and health education guidelines.
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Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends in field of expertise.
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Participates in in-service/education regarding Quality Improvement.
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Prepares and revises patient education material on diabetes related topics. Writes articles related to diabetes education and management for the newsletters and media posts in collaboration with the Marketing department.
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Identifies opportunities to improve patient/customer experience. Participates in projects/programs designed to enhance quality and service delivery and patient/customer satisfaction.
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Participates in chart audits for clinical documentation per CMS guidelines.
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Manages and recommends insulin therapy in collaboration with the referring physician.
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Initiates Insulin pump assessment and training per referring physician's order.
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Works on projects and duties, in collaboration with the department management, that need to be performed to improve delivery of patient care.
