Are you currently completing your ACEND-accredited dietetic internship and need community, specialty, or outpatient internship hours?
The Diabetes Dietitian provides interns with a supervised experiential learning experience in an outpatient setting specializing in insurance-based nutrition counseling for adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Interns gain exposure to counseling sessions, reimbursement documentation, patient education development, and how dietitians collaborate with physicians and advanced practice providers in chronic disease care.
Who This Rotation Is Ideal for:
- Outpatient nutrition counseling
- Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes care
- Patient education development
- Motivational interviewing
- Private practice careers
- Insurance-based medical nutrition therapy
- Business and entrepreneurship in dietetics
This Rotation May Not be the Best Fit for:
- Inpatient clinical experience
- Foodservice management
- Rotations outside an ACEND-approved dietetic internship
What Dietetic Interns Learn During This Rotation:
- Understand how outpatient dietitian services are funded through insurance
- Learn the basics of how to start a private practice
- Learn the fundamentals of becoming in-network with health insurance companies
- Develop patient education tools used in practice
- Understand referral pathways from Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers
- Participate as part of an interdisciplinary care team
- Learn CPT coding for nutrition services (97802, 97803)
Applied Projects Interns May Complete
- Developing diabetes education handouts
- Creating patient resource guides
- Writing patient-friendly nutrition articles
- Supporting referral outreach materials
- Plus, we work with you to complete any DI-specific competencies
Interested in Completing Your Private Practice Dietetic Rotation Here?
Hear what my former interns have to say
Mei-Lin M.
During this rotation, I gained valuable insight into private practice and the foundational work it takes to get a practice started. As a dietetic intern exploring all of the different fields of nutrition, the idea of owning a business felt like an exciting distant possibility, yet daunting and unlike other practice areas.
Throughout this experience, I have learned and seen first-hand how adaptability, time management, and self-advocacy are crucial to a successful business. I have been able to develop these skills during the rotation and look forward to applying them as I continue with my internship and into my career.
I think the most valuable lesson I have learned and one I will carry throughout my career as a future RDN is the importance of perspective. Understanding your own background and approach as an RDN, while considering the patient or client’s perspective, is what turns a good interaction into a great and effective experience. Plus, I quickly realized how perspective can strengthen communication with physicians, insurance companies, and other professionals involved when operating a practice.
Evan is an amazing preceptor with valuable insight and a fresh perspective on private practice. This rotation provides flexibility and a chance to tailor your experience and activities to your personal interests, which may be different from other internship opportunities. I highly recommend this rotation for dietetic students who are just beginning to explore private practice as well as those seriously considering starting their own practice. And by the end of this rotation, what once felt daunting now feels like an achievable and exciting possibility!
Joelle L.
During my community rotation, I learned about the many aspects of establishing and managing a private practice, including networking with healthcare providers, offering nutrition services, applying to become an in-network health insurance provider, and billing both insurance companies and clients.
I also gained a greater appreciation for the wide variety of career paths available to registered dietitians, which expanded my perspective on the opportunities within the profession.
One aspect of opening a private practice that surprised me was how challenging and time-consuming the insurance credentialing process can be. Although the process requires significant effort, I also learned how important it is because accepting insurance increases access to nutrition services for individuals who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
Another valuable takeaway from this rotation was learning about Motivational Interviewing as a counseling technique. I found it to be an effective, client-centered approach that encourages meaningful behavior change, and I expect to use these skills when counseling future clients and patients. I also strengthened my note-taking skills throughout the rotation, which will benefit me during professional development opportunities such as conferences, conventions, and continuing education lectures. Overall, this experience broadened my understanding of both the business and counseling aspects of dietetics and better prepared me for my future career as a registered dietitian.