REGISTERED DIETITIAN / CERTIFIED DIABETES CARE AND EDUCATION SPECIALIST (CDCES)

About the role

The Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is responsible for providing comprehensive nutrition assessment, medical nutrition therapy (MNT), diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES), and lifestyle counseling to individuals with diabetes, prediabetes, and other chronic health conditions in a primary care setting. This position collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient self-management skills, and promote overall health and wellness.

Responsibilities

• Medical Nutrition Therapy & Nutrition Assessment
  • Perform comprehensive nutrition assessments, including dietary intake, nutrition-related laboratory values, medical history, medications, anthropometrics, lifestyle factors, food access, and readiness for behavioral change.
  • Develop individualized nutrition diagnoses, interventions, goals, and monitoring plans.
  • Provide evidence-based medical nutrition therapy for a broad range of medical conditions.
  • Monitor patient progress and modify nutrition care plans based on clinical status, laboratory results, treatment goals, and patient preferences.
  • Document nutrition assessments, interventions, education, and follow-up in the electronic medical record.
  • Communicate relevant nutrition findings and recommendations to the primary care team.
  • Coordinate nutrition care with other healthcare professionals when patients have complex or multifactorial needs.
• Diabetes Education and Management
  • Provide comprehensive diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) for patients with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and other forms of diabetes.
  • Provide individual education related to nutrition, carbohydrate management, glucose monitoring, physical activity, medication adherence, and prevention of diabetes complications.
  • Support patients using insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), smart insulin pens, and other diabetes technologies within the individual’s scope of practice and clinic protocols.
  • Assist patients with interpretation of glucose patterns and development of appropriate lifestyle and nutrition strategies.
  • Provide education regarding hypoglycemia prevention and treatment, sick-day management, and diabetes-related nutrition concerns.
  • Collaborate with providers and the diabetes care team regarding medication, insulin, and nutrition-related concerns.
  • Participate in development and implementation of diabetes quality-improvement initiatives.
• Care Coordination
  • Serve as a nutrition resource for the entire primary care team.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences, huddles, and care-management activities as appropriate.
  • Accept referrals from physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other qualified members of the care team according to clinic policy.
  • Identify patients who may benefit from nutrition intervention through population-health initiatives, disease registries, laboratory results, or other clinical indicators.
  • Develop and participate in nutrition-focused quality-improvement initiatives.
  • Assist the clinic in meeting diabetes, cardiovascular, obesity, and other chronic disease quality measures.
  • Provide nutrition education resources and clinical support to nursing and other clinical staff.
  • Establish appropriate referral pathways with specialty providers and community resources.
• Patient Education and Population Health
  • Assist with development and maintenance of patient-friendly education materials and resources.
  • Promote preventive health, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and reduction of chronic disease risk.
  • Use motivational interviewing and behavior-change strategies to support sustainable lifestyle changes.
  • Maintain documentation in accordance with organizational policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements.
  • Identify and proactively manage patients with diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Assist providers in achieving quality metrics related to diabetes control, preventive screenings, and chronic disease management.
  • Review patient registries and outreach lists to improve follow-up compliance and health outcomes.
  • Assist with value-based care initiatives.
• Documentation and Compliance
  • Document patient encounters accurately and timely within the electronic health record (EHR).
  • Maintain compliance with HIPAA, CMS, ADA, AADE/ADCES, and organizational standards.
  • Ensure patient education and care plans meet applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, or related field from an accredited institution.
• Current Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN/RD) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Current Wisconsin dietitian certification or licensure as required by state regulations.
• Current Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential in good standing.
• Current CPR certification preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical nutrition and diabetes education experience preferred.
• Knowledge of diabetes technologies including CGM systems and insulin pumps.
• Strong communication, patient education, and counseling skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in outpatient diabetes education, endocrinology, primary care, or population health.
• Experience with quality improvement and outcome measurement.
• Experience working with diverse patient populations.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of diabetes management and medical nutrition therapy.
• Ability to interpret clinical, laboratory, and medication-related information.
• Proficiency in motivational interviewing and behavior change techniques.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications; EPIC preferred.

Continuing Education And Professional Development

• Maintain all continuing professional education requirements necessary to retain RDN/RD credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Maintain all continuing education and practice requirements necessary to retain CDCES certification through the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE).
• Complete required continuing education related to diabetes management, nutrition therapy, behavioral counseling, lifestyle medicine, chronic disease prevention, and emerging diabetes technologies.
• Remain current on evidence-based guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and other relevant professional organizations.
• Participate in clinic-sponsored education, quality improvement initiatives, and interdisciplinary team training.
• Attend professional conferences, webinars, and educational programs as approved by clinic leadership to support ongoing professional growth and program development.
• Maintain competency in diabetes technologies including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pump therapy, connected health devices, and telehealth delivery of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES).
• Demonstrate ongoing competency through annual performance evaluations, clinical outcome reviews, peer collaboration, and participation in quality improvement activities.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, talk or hear.
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Specialized equipment, machines, or vehicles used: copy, fax, scan, print, etc.