Joe
Herman,
MS, RD, LDN
Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition Services, Cura Hospitality
Orefield, PA
I received my Bachelor's degree in Biology with Psychology/Theology minors from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. I worked full-time in a number of dietary positions while obtaining my Master's degree in Foods and Nutrition from Marywood University. My thesis was a study of the incidence of catheter related infection and sepsis in individuals who receive TPN via double-lumen catheters. Since graduating from Marywood University, I have become a Certified Emergency Medical Technician. I have been working in the food service industry in a wide variety of positions for twenty-five years.
My first position after graduating from Marywood University was with a long-term care facility, Riverstreet Manor, in the Wilkes-Barre. This was a 120-bed facility and I was in charge of both the clinical and managerial operations. My main responsibilities included: Consult residents and their families on diet instruction; completed nutritional assessments; supervised dietary staff; ensured optimal nutrient intake of residents; attended all resident care conferences, safety, department head, quality improvement, infection control, wound care, JCAHO, and functional evaluation treatment unit meetings; maintained cost control for dietary services; manage all aspects of food procurement; conduct in-services to entire staff; conduct QI audits for sister facilities; conduct nutritional support team, food issues committee and clinical priority committee meetings; balanced entire dietary fiscal budget; instructed dietetic students from Marywood University and our facilities certified nursing aide program; contracted M.O.W. meal service and handled all human relations for the department. I also volunteered to take the residents to some Red Barons baseball games, planned and catered employee summer outings and Christmas dinners as well as organized the facility’s co-ed volleyball and men’s basketball league. I did dress up as the Easter bunny and Santa for the Activities department special events.
After seven years at Riverstreet Manor, I joined the team at Cura Hospitality. Nine years ago, I was the first regional dietitian for the young foodservice Management Company. Cura Hospitality provides fine-dining services artfully managed for all types of elderly needs. Two important company responsibilities include Corporate Compliance Officer and the Quality Audit Facilitator. Some other responsibilities include: conduct clinical and operational Quality Insurance (QI) audits and facilitate QI programs for all units; ensure optimal nutrient intake of residents; assist in corporate recipe program and menu development; revising policy and procedure manuals; conduct in-services to entire staff; complete nutritional assessments/documentation; train regional, consultant and staff dietitians; responsible for interviewing, hiring and training clinical staff; develop quarterly clinical meetings and clinical trainings; assist with system development; facilitate corporate Enriched Foods Program, So…Quenching Hydration Manual and Dysphasia Diet Manual; and mentor/precept dietetic college students and dietary manager students, plus conduct nutritional high-risk and MDS/PPS charting at a number of facilities on a as needed basis. I am also a member of the Cura Culinary Council, Cura Culinary College and co-chair of the Cura Clinical Council.
In my free time, I have been the Chairperson for Nutrition Education for the Lehigh Valley Dietetic Association for the last seven years. I also was a coach for a C.Y.O. Volleyball team for three years.
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Joe Herman
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