Dietitian-Clinical Home Based Primary Care

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Qualifications This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 31 - 2026 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be November 09 - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7407(a)English Language ProficiencyDietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403(f)Dietitian-Clinical providing HBPC must possess a current - valid - and unrestricted Drivers License in order to operate a government owned vehicleRegistration: All applicants must hold the RDN credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsNote: Applicants who hold the RDN credential have met the education requirement (e.gbachelor's degree or higher) of CDR - as such this occupation is considered professional and scientific with a positive education requirement and the procedures in Part I - Chapter 4 of this Handbook will be followed when applying Veteran's preferenceException for Dietitians who do not possess the RDN credentialNon-credentialed Dietitians who meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below - but do not possess the RDN credential - may be given a temporary full-time appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C.7405(c)(2)Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following: Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college - university or foreign equivalent (refer to ii below)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 is located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs DirectoryForeign EducationTo 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 examNon-credentialed Dietitians may only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 grade level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credentialNon-credentialed Dietitians must provide care under the supervision of a RDN at or above the full performance levelTemporary appointments of non-credentialed Dietitian will not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointmentGrandfathering ProvisionEmployees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and registration/certification - where applicableEmployees appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - either on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standardThe following provisions apply to employees who do not meet all the qualification requirements: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in a supervisory or managerial positionEmployees must meet the assignment-specific certification/education requirements to be placed in Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice) or Dietitian (Dietetic Internship Director) assignmentsEmployees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or registration/certification that meet all the qualification standard's basic or assignment-specific requirements must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation/assignmentEmployees retained in this occupation under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re- entry in the occupationGrade Determinations: Dietitian (Clinical) - GS-07Experience or EducationNone beyond the basic requirementsDietitian (Clinical) - GS-09ExperienceAt least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade levelOR EducationMaster's degree from a regionally accredited university or collegeKnowledge - Skills and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 stakeholdersDietitian (Clinical) - GS-11ExperienceAt least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower gradeKnowledge - Skills and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in delivering patient care using the 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/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11Physical Requirements: Refer to VA Handbook 5019 for Pre-placement examination requirementdietitian (Clinical) providing HBPC must possess a current - valid - and unrestricted drivers license in order to operate a government owned vehicle. Duties Employees in this assignment serve as a full performance Dietitian (Clinical) providing Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) within the Clinical Section of NFS serving as the medical nutrition expertThey are autonomous in their work in applying evidenced based nutrition practice guidelines for all patients - including those with complex medical and nutritional needsClinical Dietitians providing HBPC coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers - the Veteran - the Veteran's caregiver - and the communityThey interpret research and utilize whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomesClinical Dietitians providing HBPC collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience and ensure patient satisfactionFunctions or Scope of Assigned Duties: 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) formatFunctions independently and accurately when record keepingIdentifies 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)Utilizes virtual care technology to improve access to careMaintains productivity standardsMaintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completes patient encounters using approved systemsEnsures continuous improvement of safe and quality care of VeteransLeads activities in the implementation of new initiativesUses data in the development of measures - data evaluation - and initiation of corrective actionsComplies with The Joint Commission Requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient careCollaborates with the Food Operations Section and department leadership to enhance the Veterans' dining experience - support patient satisfaction - and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the Food Operations SectionMay perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignmentWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed tour: Yes Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 99502-S - 99501-S - 99500-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized