California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 5 - Licensing and Certification of Health Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Clinics, and Referral Agencies
Chapter 3 - Skilled Nursing Facilities
Article 3 - Required Services
Section 72351 - Dietetic Service - Staff

(a) A dietitian shall be employed on a full-time, part-time or consulting basis. Part-time or consultant services shall be provided on the premises at appropriate times on a regularly scheduled basis. A written record of the frequency, nature and duration of the consultant's visits shall be maintained.

(b) If a dietitian is not employed full-time, a full-time dietetic services supervisor shall be employed to be responsible for the operation of the food service. The dietetic supervisor may also cook, provided sufficient time is allowed for managerial responsibilities.

(c) Sufficient staff shall be employed, oriented, trained and their working hours scheduled to provide for the nutritional needs of the patients and to maintain the dietetic service areas. If dietetic service employees are assigned duties in other services, those duties shall not interfere with the sanitation, safety or time required for dietetic work assignments.

(d) Current work schedules by job titles and weekly time schedules by job titles shall be posted.

(e) Dietetic service personnel shall be trained in basic food sanitation techniques, wear clean clothing, and a cap or a hair net, and shall be excluded from duty when affected by skin infection or communicable diseases. Beards and mustaches which are not closely cropped and neatly trimmed shall be covered.

(f) Employees' street clothing stored in the kitchen shall be in a closed area separate from food or items used in food service.

(g) Kitchen sinks shall not be used for handwashing. Separate handwashing facilities with soap, running water and individual towels shall be provided.

(h) Persons other than dietetic service personnel shall not be allowed in the kitchen areas unless required to do so in the performance of their duties.

(i) Smoking shall not be permitted in kitchen areas.