Dietitian (Clinical)-Home Based Primary Care

SummaryThis position is located in the Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) Department with the VA Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System. The Home Based Primary Care Dietitian coordinates nutritional care activities for all assigned Veterans - including those with complex medical and nutritional needs. This position is a mobile position requiring visits to Veterans homes in rural areas. A valid state-issued driver license is required.QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyRegistered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - Must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing branch of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as the American Dietetic Association (ADA)Exception for GS-07 and GS-09 Only: Dietitians who do not possess the RDN/RD credentialNon-credentialed Dietitians who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below - but do not possess the RDN credential - may be given a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)May only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credentialNon-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following: Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalentForeign Education: To be creditable - college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND and meet ACEND's International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam~AND~ Completed an ACEND accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam as a prospective RDNA list of ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs DirectoryCurrent VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirementsGrade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements above and all the requirements defined in the specific assignmentGS-07 Dietitian (Clinical) (Entry Level Developmental) - No additional requirements beyond the basic requirementsGS-09 Dietitian (Clinical) (Developmental) - Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) OR a master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related fieldYour experience or education must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirementsKnowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition careAbility to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation)Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomesAbility to develop patient-centered goalsAbility to collect data for performance improvement studiesAbility to collaborate with stakeholdersGS-11 Dietitian (Clinical) (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 up must possess at least 1 year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) which demonstrates the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Skill in delivering patient care using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring - and evaluation)Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomesSkill in developing patient-centered goalsSkill in analyzing data for performance improvement studiesSkill in collaborating with stakeholdersAbility to comply with various accrediting - regulatory and agency authoritiesReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: Refer to VA Handbook 5019 for pre-placement examination requirementsDietitian (Clinical) providing HBPC must possess a current - valid - and unrestricted drivers license in order to operate a government owned vehicleCreditable ExperienceTo be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with current professional dietetic practice and must have been gained post registrationThis may be evidenced by one or more of the following: (1) The equivalent of 1 year of active professional practiceActive professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a registered Dietitian(2) Academic course work leading to an advanced graduate degree in nutrition or a related health care fieldQuality of ExperienceQualifying experience must be comparable to dietetic experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filledFor all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the timePart-Time ExperiencePart-time experience as a registered Dietitian is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweekFor example - a registered Dietitian employed 20 hours per week - or on a half-time basis - would receive 1 full-time work week of credit for each 2 weeks of serviceAccreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and DieteticsAccreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN)Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Registered DietitianRDN and Registered Dietitian (RD) credentials are the same and both are qualifyingThe difference between RDN and RD is in name only due to a change by the professional academy in 2014In this standard - the term RDN will be used.DutiesDuties include but not limited to: Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP) - including nutrition focused physical examinations - to establish a nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutritionDevelops and implements Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to address the nutrition diagnosis - evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of MNT interventionsModifies the plan as needed to achieve positive patient outcomesCalculates nutrient requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food and drug interactions tailoring the diet prescription to each individual patientDocuments MNT in the medical record using the Assessment - Diagnosis - Intervention - Monitoring - Evaluation (ADIME) formatIdentifies patients in need of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of support and communicates appropriately with the health care teamActively participates in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetingsAssesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups that is tailored to the Veteran(s)Complies with The Joint Commissions requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient careGS-7 AssignmentEmployees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian entry-level developmental positionThey work under the guidance of a Dietitian who is at the full performance level or above - performing increasingly complex tasks designed to prepare them for promotionClinical Dietitians conduct nutrition assessments for patients with lower acuity using the NCP while developing skills to apply evidence-based nutrition practice guidelinesClinical Dietitians learn to interpret research - apply whole health principles and develop patient-centered goalsThey develop skills in accurate record keeping of clinical activities and complete patient encounters using approved systemsDietitians comply with The Joint Commission (TJC) requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient careThey collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfactionGS-9 AssignmentEmployees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian developmental positionThey perform increasingly complex tasks under general supervisionClinical Dietitians conduct nutrition assessments using the NCPThey develop skills in applying evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines - interpreting research and utilizing whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomesClinical Dietitians also utilize virtual care technology to improve access to careThey maintain accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and patient encounters using approved systemsDietitians comply with TJC and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient careThey collect data related to performance improvement activities within Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) and assist in implementing new initiativesClinical Dietitians collaborate with the Food Service Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience - support patient satisfaction and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the food service sectionGS-11 AssignmentEmployees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian full performance level positionClinical Dietitians conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments for Veterans using the NCP (e.g. - assessment - diagnosis - intervention - monitoring and evaluation) - assuring high-quality nutrition careThey apply evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines - interpret research and utilize whole health principles to develop patient centered goals and improve outcomesDietitians also utilize virtual care technology to improve access to careThey are accountable for independent and accurate record keeping - autonomous coverage of daily clinical activities and efficiently completing patient encounters using approved systemsClinical Dietitians are knowledgeable of and ensure work accomplishments comply with TJC and other accrediting agency standards and ensure continuous improvement of safe and quality careThey collect and analyze data related to performance improvement activities within NFS - lead activities in the implementation of new initiatives and collaborate with stakeholdersDietitians frequently collaborate with the food service section and leadership staff to enhance the Veteran's dining experience - support patient satisfaction and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the Food Service SectionWork Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm - weekends and holidays Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 24496-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized