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Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium
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ACCREDITATION STATUS
The Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium has been granted Initial Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. The contact information for the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetic Education is: Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education American Dietetic Association 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000 Chicago, IL 60606-6995 312-899-0040, ext. 5400
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Southwestern Dietetic Internship (SDI) Program is an accredited dietetic internship program offered by both Phoenix Indian Medical Center and Kayenta Service Unit. It is based on the standards of accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic Association. This internship has an emphasis in American Indian/Alaska Native nutrition. The SDI is offered as a full-time program. Upon successful completion of the SDI, the intern will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians given by the Commission for Dietetic Registration (CDR). Passing the Registration examination is the final requirement to becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD). The SDI accepts 2 applicants per year. In accordance with laws regarding Indian Preference, preference is given to: " Applicants who are members of a federally recognized tribe (must provide BIA Form #4432 to qualify).
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GENERAL INFORMATION
The Southwestern Dietetic Internship, offered by a Consortium composed of Phoenix Indian Medical Center and Kayenta Service Unit, is designed to prepare dietetics professionals to work in Native American communities. Interns will have the unique opportunity to learn about nutrition programs in both rural and urban Native American communities. The internship program is planned for a total of 40weeks. Internship class will begin in June. THIS PROGRAM WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE SPRING 2011 COMPUTER MATCH AND WILL SELECT TWO INTERNS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM CONCURRENTLY.
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INTERN LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Interns will begin their supervised experience in Phoenix, Arizona at Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Phoenix Indian Medical Center is a JCAHO-accredited referral hospital that provides comprehensive health care services for Native American people from over 30 tribes. PIMC provides nutrition care to hospitalized patients, ambulatory care patients, employee feeding, and travels to tribal communities located in the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service. Interns will work in the acute care setting and participate in nutrition intervention for hospitalized patients with complex conditions. Additionally, interns will function as members of interdisciplinary teams, including nutrition support, wound care, and diabetes education. Interns will travel to field clinics and participate in nutrition programs at 6 different tribal locations in the Phoenix area. Interns will plan and deliver nutrition programs targeting groups across the age continuum. Planning and managing a food service operation is an essential skill for dietetics professionals. Interns will learn about food service systems, planning, implementing, and monitoring acceptance of meals. Interns will learn about kitchen equipment, menu planning and analysis, inventory, and ordering to prepare them for managing a food service operation Interns will continue their experience in Kayenta, Arizona. Kayenta is located on the Navajo Reservation in the scenic "Four Corners" region of the southwest United States. The Navajo Reservation is the country's largest Indian Reservation. Interns will participate in the development of health promotion and disease prevention programs, including grant management. Interns will have the opportunity to observe and participate in the administration of health programs in a rural area. Housing will be provided in Kayenta.
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MISSION, GOALS, AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Mission The mission of the Southwestern Dietetic Internship is to prepare dietetics professionals to provide culturally appropriate, comprehensive nutrition services in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It is consistent with the mission of the Indian Health Service, which is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level. Goals and Expected Outcomes The goals of the Southwestern DI are as follows: 1. To improve access to nutrition care provided by a qualified dietetics professional in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It is expected that at least 70% of graduates will be employed in AI/AN communities or accepted to a graduate school within one year. 2. To increase diversity in the dietetics profession by increasing the numbers of qualified American Indian and Alaska Native dietetics professionals. It is anticipated that at least 30% of graduates will be registered with a federally recognized tribe. Selection criteria include preference for qualified applicants registered with a federally recognized tribe. 3. The program will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level dietitians. The SDI expects that 80% of interns completing the program will pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians on the first attempt. Employers will evaluate graduates entry level skills in meeting overall competency requirements with a 90% score or better.
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PROGRAM CALENDAR
The program activities are scheduled as follows: Orientation: 1 week Clinical Nutrition: 15 weeks Administration/Management: 2 weeks Kayenta Community Nutrition: 7 weeks Food Service: 5 weeks PIMC Urban Nutrition: 5 weeks Enrichment Rotation: 4 weeks Study for RD exam: 1 week *Schedule is subject to change
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GRADUATION AND PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
In order to complete the program, successful completion of all rotations is required. If an intern does not successfully pass a rotation, the rotation may be repeated one time only. Only one rotation may be repeated. If the intern fails to successfully complete a rotation after the second attempt, the intern will be dismissed from the program. Upon successful completion of all requirements, including evaluations, interns will receive a SDI verification statement of completion.
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COST TO INTERN
" Tuition and application fees: The SDI assesses no fees for tuition or application to the program. Additional estimated expenses to students may include: " Travel between sites (approximately $250 between Kayenta and Phoenix) " Housing while in the Phoenix area. Suggested websites for housing in Phoenix: www.rent.com, www.aptfind.com, www.apartmentfind.com. Phoenix housing coordinator: Alfreada Westfield, RD. alfreada.westfield@ihs.gov. o Government housing will be provided when the intern is at the Kayenta Health Center. o Typical rent for a 1 bedroom or studio apartment in the Phoenix Area is approximately $600 per month. " Books and other reference materials not available on-site will be the choice of the individual intern as most references and a medical library are available. " Liability insurance: approximately $29 per year. " Medical exams and immunizations prior to arrival. Cost will vary based on interns individual health plan. Uniforms are not required. Lab coats will be provided. Professional business attire is expected
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APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
A completed Application Packet must include: American Dietetic Association Dietetic Internship Program Application (may be downloaded from www.azdieteticprograms.org) " DPD Verification statement that is dated within 5 years of the application deadline. " Cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Must provide official transcripts in your application packet. " A completed application. " 3 letters of reference (preferably, one from a professor and one from an employer. No letters from relatives, please.) " Applicants eligible for Indian Preference must include proof of tribal enrollment in a federally recognized tribe. (BIA Form #4432) " Handwritten letter stating short term and long term career goals, why you chose to apply to this program and what do you hope to gain from this internship.THIS LETTER MUST BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN 2 PAGES. " Handwritten answers to Knowledge-Based questions. " Current resume " Qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview. Please mail completed application packet to: Edith Clark, MBA, RD, CDE Director, Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium Phoenix Indian Medical Center 4212 N. 16th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85016
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KNOWLEDGE-BASED QUESTIONS
The following questions must be answered and submitted with the completed application packet. Knowledge-based questions must be handwritten. 1. Calculate caloric and protein requirements for a male, age 85, 68" tall, weighing 198 lbs who walks every day for 20 minutes to the Elderly Nutrition Program for lunch. Show your work. 2. When planning a menu cycle for inpatient feeding, what factors must be considered? 3. If you were hired as the first nutritionist in a community, how would you determine what type of nutrition program to develop? Please calculate the following and show all work: a. A patient is receiving 250 grams of carbohydrate, 82 grams of protein and 73 grams of fat. What is their total caloric intake and what are the percentages of each macronutrient? b. You are working in the Food Service and receive 4 cases of Ensure. Each case of Ensure contains 24 8-ounce cans and costs $16.28. This is an incorrect order and you need to return it to the supplier. The supplier charges a 15% re-stocking fee. What would the re-stocking fee be to return this order? c. There are 42.5 grams of protein in each liter of parenteral nutrition solution. Your patient needs 93 grams of protein. What volume of parenteral solution will meet his needs?
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ((FAQ's)
1. Do I have to be Native American to apply to this internship? All graduates of DPD programs are encouraged to apply. (DPD verification statement must be no more than 5 years old. The Intent to Complete must be current. )The program grants preference to qualified applicants that are members of federally recognized tribes. In the event that there are no qualified Native American applicants the selections will be made from the pool of applicants that apply. 2. If selected, are there any additional requirements? Yes, the applicants selected must have the following: "CPR Certification-If the applicant does not have this, it will be scheduled during the first rotation. "Background check. This will be completed in Phoenix and Kayenta. "The following identification documents are acceptable as proof of identification: (a) Passport or (b) Driver's license PLUS Social Security card OR birth certificate 3.Is housing provided during this program? You are responsible for your own housing while in Phoenix. During the Kayenta Community Rotation, housing arrangements will be made for you by the Kayenta Site Coordinator. Friends or family members may not occupy government housing. 4. Is transportation provided for me? No, you are responsible for your own transportation during the internship, including auto insurance and a current driver's license. Kayenta Service Unit is approximately a 4 1/2 hour drive from Phoenix, and there are few amenities beyond Flagstaff. 5. Are job placement services available? No, but our program provides information to interns on available jobs in the Indian Health Service. www.ihs.gov 5. What is the Indian Health Service? The Indian Health Service is an agency within the US Department of Health & Human Service. Within this agency there are 2 personnel systems. One is the Civil Service and the other is the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service. The following websites will provide additional information for you: wwww.ihs.gov www.usphs.gov www.opm.gov
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COMPUTER MATCHING STATEMENT FOR APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants to Dietetic Internships (DI) must participate in computer matching. Applicants should request instructions and a mark/sense card to prioritize their DI preferences. Applicants should request this material from any CADE accredited/approved Didactic Program in Dietetics program director or from D&D Digital Systems, Inc. This request should be made to allow turnaround time for submitting by the established deadline dates for the April and November computer matches. There is no charge for the computer matching material. However, there is a $50 charge for computer matching that is due with the applicant's computerized ranking. D&D Digital Systems, Inc. contact information: D&D digital Systems, Inc. 304 Main Street, Suite 301 Ames, IA 50010 Phone: 515-292-0490 Fax: 515-663-9427 Email: dnd@netins.net
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DEADLINES
For the June 2010 class: February 16, 2010 For the August 2011 class: See D & D Digital website for Spring 2011 computer match deadlines.
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CONTACT
Edith M Clark, MBA, RD, CDE Director, Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium Phoenix Indian Medical Center 4212 N. 16th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85016 602/263-1532 Fax: 602/263-1649 E-Mail: edith.clark2@ihs.gov
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