Oncology Dietitian

Overview

The Oncology Registered Dietitian is responsible for providing nutrition care to oncology patients across the continuum of the cancer experience – including primary prevention, cancer treatment, secondary prevention, recurrence, and palliative care. This position serves patients at various Texas Oncology clinics (mainly Grapevine, Keller and Fort Worth Cancer Center) across the Tarrant and Parker County areas. The Dietitian works closely with medical teams at each clinic to deliver individualized nutrition assessments, counseling, and medical nutrition therapy.

• Self-schedule patients by utilizing nutrition screening sheets, physician/RN referrals, acuity, etc.
• Assess patients’ medical history including: PMH, labs, medications, nutrition history, and treatment plan.
• Provide individualized nutrition assessments, one-on-one counseling, and medical nutrition therapy tailored to each patient’s treatment plan and nutritional needs.
• Develop the nutritional care plan for patients based on lifestyle, food tolerances/preferences, cultural preferences, financial resources, etc. Evaluate the plan and revise as needed.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team which includes physicians, nurses, radiation therapists, and social workers as well as Cancer Care Services Dietitian Lead.
• Document nutrition assessments and follow-up notes in patients’ electronic medical records and databases.
• Assist in the development of patient education materials and presentations if needed for cancer patients and/or staff (for Cancer Care Services and Texas Oncology).
• Prepare monthly statistic reports on patient encounters for statistical analysis and benchmarking.
• Refer patients to other community food and nutritional supplement agencies based on financial and nutritional needs (i.e., CCS, Meals on Wheels, DME companies for enteral support).
• Serve as the primary nutrition resource for physicians, staff, and patients regarding specific nutritional needs.
• Participate in Cancer Care Services staff meetings and various huddles and meetings with Texas Oncology.
• Attend education programs to obtain CEUs to maintain status as an effective and knowledgeable resource in the area of oncology nutrition.
• Demonstrates service excellence by showing respect, honesty, fairness, and a positive attitude toward patients and loved ones.
• Meet with dietitian lead and supervisor as scheduled.
• Provide clinic coverage as needed in the absence of Dietitian Lead.
• Serve as a preceptor to dietetic interns as needed.
• Perform other related duties assigned.

Must be a Registered Dietitian (RD) with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, Food Sciences, or Dietetics, and at least two (2) years’ experience – preferably working predominantly with oncology patients. Acute care experience with nutrition support, specifically enteral nutrition, required.

• Must be able to travel in the Tarrant and Parker County area.
• Solid knowledge of clinical nutrition with emphasis on the nutrition needs of cancer patients.
• Maintains a level of computer literacy appropriate to their role.
• Demonstrated excellence in customer service and problem-solving.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish productive working relationships with multidisciplinary teams providing patients with comprehensive care with support of service departments.
• Demonstrate dependability, including attendance and punctuality.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must demonstrate ability to handle phone and personal interactions in a professional and efficient manner and have effective communication/listening skills.
• Must be able to prioritize and organize workflow to meet deadlines.
• Must demonstrate responsibility through responsiveness to co-workers, clients, and patients; maintain the privacy and confidentiality of patients within the Texas Oncology system.

Registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners. Certified Specialist in Oncology (CSO) preferred or must be willing to sit for CSO…