title: Evaluating the performance of clinical dietitians.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to describe how clinical managers evaluate the performance of clinical dietitians and to examine managers' opinions about performance appraisal. Managers from 55 acute-care hospitals in seven midwestern states responded to a telephone survey about their appraisal of the performance of clinical dietitians. Most of the clinical managers had developed criteria with written standards for evaluating performance. Respondents evaluated the dietitians once a year and relied primarily on chart audits, other work samples, and critical incidents to judge performance. Managers in 32 of the hospitals asked their subordinates to complete a self-appraisal, and almost all of the managers negotiated with the dietitians to identify goals for professional improvement. Respondents' reasons for conducting performance appraisals were indicative of a participative management style. During the interviews, many clinical managers requested help in improving their performance appraisal systems, which suggests a need for additional training in conducting performance appraisals. The findings indicate that most clinical managers were following recommended guidelines for conducting performance appraisals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Holdt
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004046:Dietetics / Q000592:standards*; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010380:Peer Review; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce