| RD Poll |
|
Thank you for responding to the RD Poll last week!
The RD Poll will be open until the end of January, we look forward to hearing from the rest of you. A winner will be selected from all entries and will receive
'sweet prize'!!! |
|
Food For Thought |
Survey Question:
"How long can food remain on the steam table before being served?" Answer: "Food is not held at room temperature, nor is it held on the steam table for more than 30 minutes before service time..." See HMC P&P pg 291 9a which refers to Policy # 520.  Feel free to send me your menu related questions.
Janet Montano, RD Director of Menu Services |
| Contact the Editor |
 Please send your RDNews comments, suggestions & questions to Judy Morgan, MBA, RD | |
|
| Issue: 4 |
January 28, 2010 |
Greetings!
Anita Michalovskis is our featured HMC RD this week. She has a BS in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of Washington in Seattle. Anita has a 15 year career as an RD, with a variety of experiences before she came to us at HMC. Read on for more about Anita and her contributions as a valuable HMC Dietitian. |
| RD In The Field
Anita Michalovskis, RD |
|
I decided that my career path would be in healthcare when I was in high school. Most of my family members were in healthcare, so of course, I felt that was where I should be too. My father was the director of the State of Washington's WIC Program at that time and introduced me to a WIC Nutritionist who captured my attention and was the catalyst for my decision to study nutrition. Keep in mind though, that my grandmother was in a nursing home at that time, and after several trips to visit her, I knew with absolute certainty that I would never, ever, want to work in a place like a nursing home!
 My first Nutrition related job after graduating from college was in a Metabolic Kitchen at the University of Washington. Then I moved to Alaska. I spent 16 years living in Juneau, Alaska and working with the WIC Program, with the last 10 years as Coordinator for the Regional WIC Program for Southeast Alaska. Southeast Alaska is geographically challenged. The communities on the mainland are landlocked by mountains and water, the rest are on Islands. Out of the 30 + communities we served, only about 5 were connected by road. Travel to the towns and villages was either by jet, small planes, float planes or ferry. Some villages didn't have a vendor large enough to carry WIC foods, so we sent WIC clients food boxes with non-perishable WIC foods such as dried milk and dried eggs; but we made it work. I served one and a half terms as President of the Alaska Dietetic Association and served on the Licensure Committee which helped bring about Licensure for Alaska Dietitians and Nutritionists. I was Dietitian of the Year in 2000-01.
I moved to California in 2001 and decided to "try something different" and obtained a Real Estate License to process home loans for a mortgage company. I wanted to keep my "foot in the door" in nutrition and looked for part time work. The best "flexible" part time work in nutrition that I could find was in Long Term Care. Grumbling, I tried it, and to my surprise I actually liked it! It's true, the opinions we create in high school can actually change with time! Soon after, I met Lee Tincher and worked with her part time before she took on HM Composite. After a year, I realized that the mortgage loan business wasn't for me and I belonged back in healthcare, namely nutrition, full time. I have now worked for HMC since 2004 and am grateful for the support and up to date information provided by the Senior Staff. I have found working for HMC in long term care to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It feels like "home" to me as far as a career goes. I think I'll stay in this field for quite a while longer! I like consulting because I know my work makes a difference in the well being of the residents I serve. |
|
RD Tips from HMC RD Anita Michalovskis |
- Don't dwell too long on mistakes you make, frustrations and disappointments experienced in your facilities; turn them into learning opportunities instead.
- Treat the residents like you would your own grandparent.
Speak to the residents and families in layperson language for better understanding.
Bridge the isolation of the consultant role by getting to know the facility staff and getting involved in the facility.
- Support HMC to the facility, and keep the communication open to HMC for facility concerns.
- Contact the senior staff or HMC office for help with survey situations that are unclear.
|
| Dear Dietitian; |
If you want to communicate with Anita, or have a comment, please send me an email, and I will forward to her. Anita's longevity with HMC and years of experience has given her the opportunity to train new RDs, dietary managers, and dietetic interns.
We value your expertise and look to provide opportunities to develop your connection with our staff and promote your career growth.
Judy Morgan, MBA, RD
Corporate Dietitian
HMComposite | |
|
|
|
Registered Dietitian Newsletter
