Department Overview

The Meal Service Associate is part of the multi-disciplinary team providing food and nutritional care to OHSU patients on Marquam Hill and at CHH2. Primary duties include coordinating all aspects of patient meal service including assisting the patients to place meal orders, assembling the meal in the kitchen (at CHH2), delivering to the patient and picking up the dirty tray.

Function/Duties of Position

Patient Care: Provides direct care to the patient as required for meal service including: assists patients with the menu order process, makes sure patients are ready for meal with over-bed table cleared; delivers trays to patients; is alert for tray accuracy, checks as delivering trays; makes second rounds to patients getting them anything they need within their dietary restrictions; is alert for items left on trays (glasses, dentures, paperwork); demonstrates performance consistent with Departmental, Divisional and organizational expectations and core competencies; performs area specific skills and follows established protocols including: uses two patient identifiers; uses hand sanitizer between patient contacts; recognizes and responds to emergent situations; documents according to established policies and procedures including: patient intakes and calorie count data in Epic on the computer; converts weights and measures for food items for calorie count data; coordinates care and/or services with other team members including: alerts dietitians and dietetic technicians to patients' needs and arranges for snacks as appropriate; notifies nursing and other professional staff of patient needs when out of the Room Service Associate scope of practice; communicates in a respectful, caring and non-judgmental manner; reinforces nutritional teaching and counseling which is supportive and/or restorative of health; assumes responsibility for professional/job related development, knowledge of advances in technology, use of new equipment and appropriate application of hospital systems; incorporates quality improvement practices into performance; incorporates the principles of OHSU's Mission Statement into performance; supports patient and family centered care across the continuum through service coordination; adheres to HIPPA and confidentiality guidelines; adheres to the OHSU Code of Conduct; Performs requirements for Staff Members as outlined in Compliance Roles and Responsibilities in OHSU Hospitals and Clinics:

• Carries out job responsibilities in an ethical, effective and professional manner.
• Reports potential compliance problems using the reporting processes as outlined in the Code of Conduct.
• Models ethical and appropriate behavior, professional standards, compliance, and personal integrity.
• Participates in training programs.
• Understands and complies with OHSU and departmental policies and procedures, applicable rules and regulations

Hospitality: fulfills responsibility to organization through performance that promotes the service excellence philosophy; provides outstanding care to patients including: immediate service recovery, listens and responds to patients' needs including unspoken or subtle requests, assists patients, family and friends with concierge type services including providing information resources; completes patient satisfaction surveys weekly

Clerical: keeps list of patients for assigned floor(s), checks diets on the food and nutrition list with the list on the care unit(s); keeps communication log(s) current; orders par stock via fax machine; records food intakes, fluid intakes, and calorie count information in the EPIC system.

Food Preparation: makes coffee for the unit as needed.

Sanitation: puts frozen and refrigerated stock away quickly; stocks non-perishables; picks up trays from meals and puts into soiled tray cart; cleans pantry, refrigerator, freezer and other storage areas.

Sustainability: supports sustainability efforts of the Food & Nutrition Department by participating fully in the recycling programs.

Waste Prevention: prevents waste by assisting patients to get what they want; using oldest first (FIFO), and preparing only what is needed; demonstrates fiscal accountability and the effective use of resources.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• 1 year of food service experience which included direct customer service experience and demonstrated customer service skills
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in English
• Ability to learn new computer applications and programs quickly and accurately
• Ability to keep abreast of new equipment and advances in technology
• Must have detailed and accurate math skills to convert weights and measures for patient food intakes without a calculator
• Must have critical thinking skills to appropriately diagnose and respond to service recovery opportunities
• Multnomah County Food Handler's Card
• Compliance:
  • Code of conduct
  • Respect in the workplace
  • Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

All are welcome