Infant Formula Technician

Performs a variety of tasks related to the preparation and delivery of human milk, pasteurized donor human milk, and infant/pediatric formulas, as well as the transfer of patient feeding order information.

About the role

Technicians will greet and interact with internal and external customers while adhering to all food safety and sanitation regulations established by the hospital and regulatory agencies. The role involves the safe and effective operation of equipment needed to prepare infant/pediatric feedings and maintain sanitation in the preparation room.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a friendly and helpful attitude toward customers (internal and external) and coworkers.
• Prepares, portions, and delivers patient feedings per feeding order, recipes, or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) instruction.
• Maintains patient feeding orders via computer system and accurately prepares feeding orders that are not available as ready-to-feed formula.
• Transcribes feeding order information to prepare feeding labels.
• Reports discrepancies in feeding orders to manager or RDN.
• Communicates with manager, patient care areas, and RDNs regarding issues or problems with feeding orders, human milk/pasteurized donor human milk/formula storage, or administration of feedings.
• Communicates with parents who are dropping off, storing, and/or picking up expressed human milk to ensure proper labeling and storing.
• Communicates with parents, nurses, lactation consultants, dietitians, and colleagues to receive and clarify daily diet orders and ensures accurate preparation and labeling of human milk/pasteurized donor human milk feedings.
• Completes necessary paperwork for accurate billing and tracking of pasteurized donor human milk and infant formulas.
• Complies with daily records and updates computerized patient profiles regarding infant/pediatric feeding orders, including allergy information.
• Follows established processes for quality assurance monitoring.
• Sets up assigned workstation and maintains an adequate inventory of supplies.
• Unpacks, labels, and stores fortifiers, formula, and supplies in their designated storage area; rotates supplies using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
• Covers, labels, and dates formula requiring refrigeration according to policy.
• Maintains a sanitary and safe environment by following departmental and infection prevention policies; reports unsafe conditions and accidents to manager.
• Uses correct technique to measure solids and liquids.
• Maintains a clean and orderly workspace, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local health regulations.
• Maintains clean equipment and cleans small wares in dishwasher; records dish machine temperatures per procedure.
• Records refrigerator and freezer temperatures on appropriate logs daily in designated pantries and work areas.
• Removes damaged formula cans and outdated formula stock from inventory and disposes of them per facility guidelines.
• Adheres to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines; maintains temperature logs of prepared feedings for quality assurance.
• Adheres to uniform policy; no artificial nails allowed; nails must be kept short, clean, and unpolished.
• Assists in training other staff in feeding preparation and proper handling techniques as needed.
• Attends mandatory meetings and in-service education programs as scheduled.
• Treats all information and data with confidentiality and complies with HIPAA regulations.
• Adheres to all established safety systems and training programs; complies with OSHA and other regulations.
• Recognizes and adopts activities appropriate to the specific needs of the patient population.
• Maintains compliance with standards of operation and all records necessary to comply with government and accrediting agency regulations.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Food Handlers Permit (required).
• High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) (required).
• One-year experience working with a hospital culinary program, diet office, or in a medical field (required).
• Demonstrated proficient math skills with a focus on attention to detail and accuracy.
• Basic computer operation, keyboard proficiency, and ability to utilize common software applications.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need to see and read information, recipes, and labels.
• Frequent interactions requiring verbal communication as well as hearing and understanding spoken information accurately.
• Expected to lift and utilize full range of movement, including bending to retrieve, lift, and carry supplies and equipment (up to 50 lb).
• Remain standing for extended periods.
• Finger dexterity required.

Schedule

Full-time, 32 hours per week. Availability needed Sunday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 7 PM, including weekend and holiday rotations.

Pay

Hourly rate based on experience: $19.50 - $26.48.

Benefits

Benefits-eligible position including medical, dental, vision, and education assistance.