Hi everyone! My name is Jamie Lopez. I am a Sodexo distance intern from Winchester, Massachusetts. Most of my time has been spent at Winchester Hospital, where I am doing my food service and clinical rotations. Prior to becoming a dietetic intern, I have worked at Winchester Hospital as a diet technician for a year. I have been very fortunate to be able to do my internship at the same place I work, because I am very familiar with speaking with the dietitians, kitchen, and medical staff regarding a patient’s diet and treatment plans. I just recently finished my patient services rotation, I’m halfway through my clinical rotations, and I am now starting my food service rotation. Overall, my internship has been such an amazing experience and I am constantly learning new things every day.
In my food service rotation, I have learned the process of doing a food service audit to solve problems within the kitchen by using a corrective action plan, order inventory, and prepping and/or preparing meals to serve to the patients and hospital staff as well as preparation for meals on wheels. For instance, yesterday I learned that the chefs prepare multiple meals at a time either the day before or multiple days prior to the day the meal will actually be served. This involves multi-tasking, organization, and planning. Not only will prepping meals ahead of time allow for an easier functionality throughout the kitchen, but it will help the chefs to be able to focus more on the therapeutic diets needed for that specific day, such as pureed, ground, renal, and low sodium. A few of the recipes that I helped prepare were sweet and sour chicken, panko crusted cod, and chicken Caesar salads. I enjoyed my experience in the production aspect of food.
In my food service rotation, I have learned the process of doing a food service audit to solve problems within the kitchen by using a corrective action plan, order inventory, and prepping and/or preparing meals to serve to the patients and hospital staff as well as preparation for meals on wheels. For instance, yesterday I learned that the chefs prepare multiple meals at a time either the day before or multiple days prior to the day the meal will actually be served. This involves multi-tasking, organization, and planning. Not only will prepping meals ahead of time allow for an easier functionality throughout the kitchen, but it will help the chefs to be able to focus more on the therapeutic diets needed for that specific day, such as pureed, ground, renal, and low sodium. A few of the recipes that I helped prepare were sweet and sour chicken, panko crusted cod, and chicken Caesar salads. I enjoyed my experience in the production aspect of food.
For the clinical hours I have completed so far, I’ve really enjoyed being able to utilize my knowledge of medical nutrition therapy to interview patients, give diet educations, and provide them with the best nutrition treatment plans tailored to their specific needs. I have also had the opportunity to shadow an oncology dietitian consult with patients getting a PEG tube inserted. I love the clinical aspect of nutrition, especially working with the elderly population. When I am finished with the internship program, I want to be a long-term care dietitian.
Once I am finished with my food service rotation, I will return to my advance clinical and staff relief rotations. Having a break from my clinical rotations has allowed me to refresh my mind to be able to provide my patients with the best nutrition therapy. What I found throughout this process is that you need to do what works best for you. I love how this internship program allows us to create our own schedules tailored to our own individual needs. I am able to study at my own pace and have more time to comprehend information obtained from each rotation.
Once I am finished with my food service rotation, I will return to my advance clinical and staff relief rotations. Having a break from my clinical rotations has allowed me to refresh my mind to be able to provide my patients with the best nutrition therapy. What I found throughout this process is that you need to do what works best for you. I love how this internship program allows us to create our own schedules tailored to our own individual needs. I am able to study at my own pace and have more time to comprehend information obtained from each rotation.
