Nutrition Assistant

Nutrition Assistant

At Houston Methodist, the Nutrition Assistant position is responsible for educating patients on the dining services programs/processes, serving as the initial point of contact for problem resolution, and ensuring accurate diet information.

The role assists patients with menu selection specific to their physician‑prescribed diet order, ensures timely meal/tray delivery, monitors feedback for improvement, corrects issues relayed from patients to appropriate staff, and communicates with peers and management about workplace hazards and sanitation procedures.

All responsibilities adhere to department policies, procedures, and local Food Ordinances.

Non‑exempt

• Education
  :
  High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post‑secondary education, etc.)
• Experience
  :
  One year of customer service or hospitality experience preferred.
• Licenses & Certifications
  :
  • Food Handlers Permit – accredited food handler training course approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TXDSHS) or by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
  • Certified Food Manager – obtain within 90 days; once this certification is obtained, the Food Handler Permit is no longer required. The Food Service Manager must be renewed every five years.

• Greets patients, uses their name whenever possible, and educates them on the dining services programs/processes specific to their physician‑prescribed diet order. Interacts in a positive, professional manner with patients, family, and staff. Communicates clearly to nursing, interprofessional staff, and peers to promote work efforts and problem resolution.
• Serves as the first point of contact for all complaints involving patient Food Services. Follows through with resolving problems and communicates to management when patient food service problems are identified.
• Communicates pertinent information (difficulty eating, poor appetite, nourishment concerns, formula usage, requests to see the Dietitian, etc.) to ensure proper handling and processing.
• Contributes toward improvement of department scores for employee engagement and peer‑to‑peer accountability.

• Ensures that all new admits receive information regarding the dining services program and their prescribed diets. Assists and accommodates patients, as needed, with diet information, answers menu selection questions, places orders using computerized software, and handles meal ordering directions and problems. Distributes tube feedings, nourishments/supplements, fruit baskets, and birthday cakes on time.
• Identifies menu items and describes every item on the menu, responding to inquiries regarding taste and ingredients appropriately.
• Checks the tray for accuracy and presentation before delivery. Secures missing or requested items during delivery. Assists in plating food during peak times per team leader or management. Delivers trays and sets up accordingly.
• Accurately logs and tracks customer concerns on appropriate documents. Utilizes appropriate patient identifiers before meal delivery. Ensures patient satisfaction before leaving the room and contributes to improvement of department score for patient satisfaction through peer‑to‑peer accountability to service standards.

• Confirms diet orders listed as “no orders” on the patient meal work sheets and reviews insulin reports for diabetic patients requiring medication reminders before meal delivery.
• Performs quality or PI projects, including test trays, to ensure correct meal selection, reduce waste, and collect soiled tray data.
• Provides accurate documentation, maintains an orderly work area, and ensures supplies, equipment, and parts are stored properly.

• Inventories and maintains condiments at pre‑established levels to reduce waste and stay within budgeting funds; maintains stock of patient menus on assigned floors.
• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation; self‑motivated to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

• Makes recommendations to improve patient satisfaction scores through excellent room service advocacy and assists management in developing and implementing process improvements.
• Seeks opportunities for self‑development, takes appropriate action, and ensures career discussions occur with management, completing and updating the My Development Plan regularly.

• Uniform:
  Yes
• Scrubs:
  No
• Business professional:
  No
• Other (department approved):
  Yes

No

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area:
  No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area:
  No