Salary Range

The salary range for this position is CAD $34.81 - $34.81 / hour

Detailed Overview

Under the supervision of the Dietitian Practice Leader or designate, Dietitian Services, the technician handles, labels, stores, prepares, and distributes human milk to inpatients in the Fraser Health NICU, obstetrics and pediatric units using safe food handling techniques and established safe milk management procedures. The technician also prepares human milk, and infant, enteral and metabolic formula to match the Nutrition Orders as required for the hospital. In addition, this role will provide coverage as required as a Clinical Diet Technician by conducting nutritional screening of patients for malnutrition risk, visiting patients to obtain diet related information and charting activities in patient medical record and other computerized systems.

Responsibilities

- Maintains strict adherence to aseptic procedures, Food Safe guidelines, and safety practices and procedures related to the handling of human milk, and the handling and preparation of infant, enteral and metabolic formula, including following the Guidelines for the Preparation of Human Milk and Formula in Health Care Facilities and Food Premise Regulations.
- Prepares all infant and enteral formula and human milk feeds, with or without added nutrition products by preparing and portioning into aliquots for feeding by nurses at the patient bedside as per the Nutrition Order and in accordance with established guidelines, policies, procedures and standards.
- Collects human milk from NICU, obstetrics, and pediatric units for labelling, storage and preparation with added nutrition products. Delivers human milk and formula to clinical areas as appropriate according to established safety standards; rotates and/or removes expired products.
- Receives and reviews new and existing Nutrition Orders. Uses the appropriate software technology to calculate or manually calculates amount of nutrition products to be added to human milk, or amount of product to prepare infant, enteral or metabolic formula required to achieve Nutrition Order. Verifies accuracy utilizing mathematical calculations as required.
- Cleans and sanitizes work area daily according to established procedures to ensure that aseptic conditions are maintained, including the preparation space and equipment required for the labelling, handling, preparation and storage of human milk.



Performs additional cleaning tasks as per schedule and following standardized procedures and protocols to maintain an aseptic workplace.
- Operates equipment including hot water dispenser, blender, dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer required for storage and preparation of human milk, infant, enteral or metabolic formula according to established procedures and protocols to maintain an aseptic environment.
- Monitors equipment function and maintains data for audits, including but not limited to temperature logs of area dishwasher, refrigerator and freezers according to established standards. Escalates to supervisor for direction when values are out of acceptable range and takes corrective action as directed. Reports equipment malfunctions to maintenance and the supervisor immediately.
- Communicates with clinical staff regarding formula and human milk inventory management, such as alerting nursing staff of EBM shortages and requesting alternative Nutrition Orders if human milk is not available.
- Prepares human milk in inventory for patient discharge or transfer.
- Clarifies nutrition orders as required, e.g., when orders are outside of expected parameters according to nutrition standards and protocols. Communicates with prescriber regarding the order and requests adjustment of the prescriber’s order as required.
- Answers general enquiries about human milk inventory management, and availability/delivery or patient specific orders for human milk and nutrition products. Escalates clinical enquiries to the unit dietitian or DPL/coordinator as required. Maintains telephone log by recording telephone calls and enquiries in detail.
- Maintains database of patient nutrition orders using milk management technology and software applications by methods such as operating handheld milk barcoding devices to scan milk into or out of inventory, entering final volumes into milk management software, and printing milk barcoding labels after milk preparation.
- Contacts BC Women's Hospital Provincial Milk Bank Technicians,



Milk handling coordinator and/or MICY units to manage pasteurized donor human milk inventory and requirements.
- Maintains files on distribution of pasteurized donor human milk as per hospital policy. Provides information to the BC Women's Hospital Provincial Milk Bank for statistical purposes as requested by the supervisor.
- Utilizes manual downtime procedures when milk management system software is not functioning; completes manual data re-entry after system downtime has resolved.
- Organizes stock and maintains inventory areas according to established standards. Establishes, reviews and revises minimum expected levels of stock (par levels); rotates stock and monitors shelf-life of inventory. Reports product and delivery problems.
- Determines weekly formula and supply requirements; places orders and receives supplies. Identifies potential supply shortfalls and communicates these to the coordinator.
- Participates in audits and inspections, relevant meetings and committees as required.
- Records statistical data and completes monthly report of activities as required.
- Participates in the revision of policy and procedures; recommends updates to work processes and job routines as required. Provides orientation to new staff and students on Formula and Milk Handling Room daily tasks and functions.
- Conducts nutritional screening of patients for malnutrition risk, visits patients to obtain diet related information regarding nutritional and therapeutic diet needs; identifies patient food preference/food tolerance/food acceptance; charts activities in patient medical record such as meal intake, diet and diet-related information; inputs and/or updates patient diet and diet-related information into a computerized system.
- Liaises with short-call and staffing services regarding staff scheduling and sick calls. Refers problems to supervisor and FH staffing services.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Training & Experience Grade 12, completion of a recognized two (2) year Food Service Supervisor Program plus one year’s recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills & Abilities

- Ability to deal with others effectively.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to organize work.
- Ability to operate related equipment.
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

📌 Milk Technician/Clinical Diet Technician (New Westminster)
🏢 Fraser Health
📍 New Westminster