Nutrition Assistant

Join us at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital where we have been providing world-class care to our community for over 100 years. Here, we strive for patient-centered care and comfort with our collaborative team of healthcare professionals. We are committed to serving the community and treating our patients as families.   

Akron General understands that keeping up with nutritional needs is essential to staying well. As a Nutrition Assistant, you will work under the direct supervision of the Director of Food & Nutrition or designated supervisor and be responsible for menu delivery and assisting patients with their meal selections based on their approved dietary orders. You will also verify and enter orders into our dietary menu system while maintaining communication between care units and patients regarding nutrition and dietetics to ensure meal accuracy. In this position, your efforts can leave a positive impression on patients and their families every day. 

A caregiver in this position works 1st or 2nd shift, including every other weekend and holiday. Full-time roles working 40 hours per week are available, as well as part-time.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:  

• Deliver and pick up menus from patients and patient care units. 

• Explain the meal selection process to new patients and assist with menu selections. 

• Obtain patient preferences, dislikes and other information to ensure quality food delivery to patients.  

• Assist patients with menu selection either over the phone or in person to verify meal selections based on established schedule or as required. 

• Offer various food options based on patients' diet orders and availability from the kitchen. 

• Enter the appropriate information into a hand-held system or computer. 

• Review entries for proper adherence to dietary orders. 

• Follow up with patients if menu selections appear incomplete or insufficient. 

• Handle a large volume of inbound patient calls in a timely manner. 

• Collect and process patient meal selections efficiently using the CBORD system. 

• Ensure patient safety and accuracy by utilizing two patient identifiers during all  
  communications. 

• Escalate critical issues to management promptly to ensure resolution and maintain efficiency. 

• Ensure prompt response to requests for service and follow up if delays or product availability problems are identified. 

• Update patient lists to verify meal selections or diet order changes.  

• Check trays for accuracy prior to meals being delivered to patients.  

• Run tray tickets for meal service, compare diet lists with tray tickets, adjust tray tickets, note changes and verify with a Registered Dietitian if necessary.  

• Provide excellent service to others by monitoring computer messages, following through on all requests, notifying the appropriate caregivers, answering the phone, following up on messages and acting to remedy complaints.  

• Perform various clerical duties, run lists and worksheets and distribute to staff and assist with inventory and storage of menus and other items.  

• Prepare items for unit orders, stock supplies, fill orders from inventory  
  with proper documentation for charging and adhere to order amounts and standard stock levels. 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• High School Diploma or GED 

• Ability to understand dietary terms and information 

• Proficiency in the use of basic computer software applications 

• Strong customer service ability 

• Basic typing/keyboarding ability 

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Six months of dietary experience