Program Coord (Diabetes)-Nutrition Clinic-40 Hrs / Week-Day Shift-No Weekends

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Diabetes & Nutrition Program Coordinator is a professional nurse or registered dietician, with CDE credential, who possesses unique clinical knowledge and teaching skills. The program coordinator acts as a role model to clinicians, staff, other health care professionals, and support services and provides consultation in her/his specialty area.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Diabetes & Nutrition Program Coordinator reports to the Director, Respiratory & Outpatient Services and the Medical Director of Endocrinology. He/She also collaborates with the Diabetes Program Director at SHCN.

• The Program Coordinator works collaboratively with all members of the health care delivery team to promote quality patient care.
• Must possess exceptional skills in problem-solving techniques, oral and written communication and leadership skills.
• Supervises ancillary and support staff in the George Tully, MD, Diabetes & Nutrition Center.
• Acts as a liaison between program staff, the Diabetes Advisory Committee and hospital administration.
• Chairperson of the local diabetes education committee, she/he coordinates the annual planning and ongoing program evaluation at the local level and reports to the Regional Diabetes Advisory Committee as required.
• Authority and responsibility to develop and direct the Diabetes Program at St. Elizabeths Medical Center and to ensure that the American Diabetes Association Program Recognition standards are met.
• Has the authority and responsibility for selecting, training, orienting, assigning, evaluating, counseling, and terminating departmental staff under her/his supervision.
• Authority to reorganize the department to meet the agreed upon objectives.
• Diabetes education to patients and families/significant others and educate all levels of staff regarding diabetes education.
• Demonstrates commitment to the profession through membership and participation in professional organizations.
• Participates as a guest lecturer to professional and consumer groups as time and interest permit.
• Develops/publishes educational materials for utilization by patients, professionals and consumer groups.
• Actively participates on committees within the medical center as appropriate.
• Provides input into collaborative group practices as they relate to the care of the diabetic patient and patient referrals to the nutrition program.

Program Responsibilities:

• Site Coordinator for persons with Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes with continues to meet the American Diabetes Association Recognition requirements. And provides MNT to patients referred with other diagnoses.
• Develop, implement and revise as indicated all program Policies & Procedures required to meet the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, The American Diabetes Association Standards of Care, The Joint Commission, The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, and other regulatory agencies.
• Develop in collaboration with the marketing department, an effective marketing plan to reach areas physicians and patient customers.
• Collaborate with various departments to develop a plan regarding patient scheduling, insurance referrals, billing/reimbursement issues, and permanent documentation and storage of the medical record.
• Provide overall coordination and management of the daily function, both clinically and administratively of the Diabetes Center.
• Under the direction of the SHCN Diabetes Program Director, design, implement, and evaluate the content and effectiveness of the diabetes self-management training program.
• Maintain ADA Recognition for the diabetes program.
• Works in conjunction with Director on annual and capital budgets.
• Completes performance appraisals on all employees under her/his supervision in a timely manner.

Clinical Practice:

• Provides direct patient education to patients and families/significant others in the outpatient setting as requested by the patients primary care physician/specialist.
• Conducts individualized needs assessments on persons attending the diabetes self-management training program.
• Plan individualized and group instruction based on the results of the needs assessment.
• Provide individualized and group instruction in compliance with the approved curriculum to patients and families/significant others who participate in the diabetes self-management program.
• Document in a permanent medical record all aspects of the diabetes self-management and medical nutrition therapy. Instruction received by the patient and/or relevant aspects of the patients self-management experience.
• Provide written communication to the referring physician summarizing the patients self-management training experience and management plan.

Orientation and Continuing Education:

• Serves as a role model for professional practice in the clinical areas.
• Collaboratively plans and develops educational programs with other educators for staff which build on existing skills and lead to improved clinical practice and acquisition of new knowledge.
• Design and develop diabetes related educational programs in response to hospital initiatives.
• Provides direct input into any hospital programming involving diabetes care, education and management.
• Maintains competency through participation in educational activities, clinical practice and consultation which promote professional growth.

Continuous Quality Improvement/Research:

• Coordinate ongoing and annual quality assurance review of local site program resources, patient records, curriculum, and program delivery.
• Designs, promotes and participates in diabetic-related research activities, including CQI programs, to improve patient care practice within the diabetes self-management program and St. Elizabeths Medical Center.
• Provides direct input into diabetes related product representatives for potential improvement in the quality of the product and/or delivery of patient care.

Reporting Requirements:

• Maintains all required documentation for achieving/maintaining ADA Recognition.
• Develops and presents a written report to the Medical Director of the diabetes program.
• Develops and presents written reports to local and regional Diabetes Advisory Committees as warranted.
• Provides timely feedback as necessary to the Director.

Accountability:

• Accountable for the daily function of the diabetes program. This includes scheduling of patients and staff, facilities and procedures, problem solving and expenditure of funds to accomplish the goals of the diabetes program.
• Accountable for maintaining confidentiality and security of all hospital related, medical related and patient related data and information.
• Accountable for abiding by all the relevant hospital policies and procedures.
• Accountable for management of human resources with the diabetes and nutrition department.
• Accountable for staff development.
• Accountable for fiscal efficiency and effectiveness.
• Accountable for assessment of learning needs of patients and staff related to diabetes services and interventions.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

(Examples: Ability to work independently and take initiative; Good judgment and problem solving skills; Communication skills; Interpersonal and organizational skills; Level of confidentiality)

• Competence in diabetes education and self-management skills.
• The ability to analyze complex issues and solve them creatively.
• Strong leadership skills relative to motivating and developing an interdisciplinary team to be successful.
• Ability to make formal presentations relative to; diabetes care, education and management as well as marketing of the diabetes program.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/LICENSURE/TECHNICAL/OTHER:

1. Education: Graduate of approved nursing school or dietetic school. RN, CDE, with current MA license or RD, CDE, with current MA license and registration. Certified Diabetes Educator required.

• II. Experience (Type & Length): Minimum 5 years clinical experience required. Minimum 2 years of leadership, supervisory experience preferred. Minimum of 3 years of experience in Diabetes specialty.

1. Certification/Licensure: RN, CDE or RD, CDE

• IV. Software/Hardware: Meditech, Athena
• V. Other: as needed