Weight Management Dietetic Specialist (PRN) - Clear Lake

This is a PRN Weight Management Dietetic Specialist position (non-benefited) that will report to the Weight Management department at Houston Methodist Clear Lake. The following are further details about the role:

• Dietitian with outpatient experience in bariatrics preferred
• Coverage is 1 day a week (Wednesday) with ability to add an additional day (Tuesday/Thursday)
• Working with diabetes, weight loss, and bariatric patients 
• Open to cover additional system locations as needed

At Houston Methodist, the Weight Management Dietetic Specialist PRN position is an entry level to experienced clinician functioning at the requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), developing, and instructing weight loss, medical weight management, diabetes, and bariatric education classes in conjunction with dietitian team. This position is responsible for assessing the client's nutritional status using recognized tools of assessment, recommending nutrition plans via department Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) pathways/programs to clients, based on physical results, goals and concerns. The Weight Management Dietetic Specialist PRN position will also plan and implement professional nutrition presentations as well as actively participate in planning, instruction, and evaluation of the nutrition component of Houston Methodist Center for Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery programs and services and participates in departmental and quality improvement projects.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Utilizes skills and knowledge for training patients on all aspects of Diabetes Self-Management including teaching group diabetes classes and leading diabetes support groups.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles. Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leverages knowledge from specialty training to develop and instruct weight loss, medical weight management, diabetes, and bariatric education classes independently.

• Develops and implements customized nutrition plans via departmental Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) pathways/programs to clients, based on physical results, goals and concerns.

• Identifies and provides guidance for external nutrition resources upon assessment and evaluation of unique patient social determinants of health.

• Performs body composition assessments and interpreting results.

• Contributes towards improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Educates patients and team on nutrition information, while assessing effectiveness of nutrition education. Consistently evaluates the patient's/client's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.

• Updates guidelines, policies, procedures & standards of care services based upon outcomes and evidence-based medicine/research.

• Monitors and reassesses patients against the initial assessment and goals that are set with each patient. Recognizes complications/limitations associated with certain goals and proactively addresses such for optimum outcomes.

• Proactively identifies opportunities for corrective action and process improvement within the department. Contributes to meeting department targets for quality and safety measures.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Schedules follow-up appointments to ensure continuity of care and therefore increasing department revenue. Works efficiently to complete insurance requirements to expedite bariatric surgical approvals.

• Identifies opportunities to connect with referring providers for referrals to other departments and services. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Continuously works with peers and management to improve, revise, or create new department programs, curriculum, and courses. Maintains professional development competencies by reading and communicating evidence-based practice literature in nutrition and weight loss and related disciplines; presents findings of research to Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery department.

• Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of an education program approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations section.

• 15 CEUs in Diabetes Self-Management within 6 months of hire (must be completed annually, unless the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) from the American Diabetes Association is obtained)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• One-year clinical nutrition experience