Food & Nutrition Cafe

Major Responsibilities

• Accurately prepares, expedite, validates and delivers patient meals and floor stock that meet patient and customer expectations, department standards and regulatory requirements.
• Assists the patient with menu selection/ordering, as needed.
• Communicates the patients’ special meal requests or needs (i.e. likes and dislikes) to the diet office.
• Delivers & retrieves meal trays within the designated time frame.
• Distributes patient meals trays; verifies accuracy at point of service. Checks parameters for patient verification.
• Aids the patient with opening containers, adjusting tray stand and removing lids as needed.
• Collects patient meal trays. Communicates patient needs to nursing.
• Communicates information about wrong or missing items to the kitchen.
• Completes daily cafe and/or trayline related activities as outlined in individual task sheets (e.g., wiping tables, restocking service stations, cleaning and maintaining assigned areas, dishroom related activities).
• Responds promptly to telephone pages. Maintains patient confidentiality during telephone communications and other discussions.
• Distributes patient menus according to respective patient diet as needed.
• Performs cash related activities including but not limited to, cash collection, cash count reconciliation, and accurate transaction input.
• Fulfills standardized recipes, production standards, and food safety processes as applicable.

Patient and Customer Satisfaction

• Demonstrates a commitment to meeting patient and customer expectations.
• Demonstrates a commitment to service through personal example and prompt follow-up on opportunities to improve service.
• Demonstrates a “can do” attitude in all patient and customer interactions.
• Partners with hospital associates to meet patient and customer expectations for service.
• Rounds on patient weekly to determine overall satisfaction.

Communications

• Demonstrates effective communication skills.
• Collaborates with hospital departments and fellow associates to meet patient and customer expectations for service.
• Demonstrates accuracy and clarity in both verbal and written communications.
• Takes responsibility for decisions.
• Communicates pertinent patient and operational information to the appropriate resource for follow-up.
• Respects the confidentiality of patient information.
• Maintains HIPAA standards during all communications.

Safety and Sanitation

• Utilizes the appropriate safety techniques in the performance of duties.
• Uses correct body mechanics in the performance of duties.
• Practices safety and sanitation techniques that meet department standards and regulatory requirements.
• Utilizes chemicals according to department and manufacturer guidelines.
• Practices “clean as you go” in day-to-day task assignments.

Department Standards

• Observes hospital/department guidelines concerning dress and display of name badge.
• Attends scheduled department meetings, inservices, and other meetings as scheduled.
• Provides a high-quality dining experience to patients/customers that meets their nutritional requirements and service expectations regarding temperature, timeliness, and food quality.
• Utilizes performance improvement processes to identify, assess, and evaluate areas for improvement.

Education/Experience

Required: 6 months to 1 year experience in hospitality industry or customer service experience.

Preferred: None specified.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to speak, read and write English clearly and proficiently.
• Ability to accurately count and perform basic mathematical functions.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to relate to a diverse audience of individuals.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to walk for significant periods of time when going to patient's rooms.
• Must stand or walk for long periods of time.
• Employees who work this position spend 100% of the time on their feet.
• May be exposed to a variety of disagreeable conditions and stressful situations.
• Moderate physical effort (lift up to 35 pounds and push up to 45 pounds of force).
• Ability to rotate positions throughout the department.
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching, lifting, climbing, kneeling.
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, sharp objects, heat, steam, refrigeration and freezer temperatures.
• Willingness and capability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work flexible hours; evenings, weekdays, weekends and holidays.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact, the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015: Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance.
• For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available.
• Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.