Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory Therapist Craig Hospital Englewood, CO

Patient-Centered Care | Advanced Respiratory Support | Interdisciplinary Collaboration

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for the implementation and coordination of respiratory care based on the policies and procedures of the Respiratory Care Department. This position will also perform support activities such as setting up and operating various types of respiratory care equipment to be utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease and/or illness. This position is responsible for providing efficient, quality-oriented patient care activities and interdisciplinary team activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Licensure/Certification/Registrations: Maintains active Colorado Respiratory Care Licensure. Current BLS for the Healthcare Provider, and ACLS through the American Heart Association.
• Education: Successful completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Program. Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
• Experience: Two years recent clinical experience preferred. Sleep Disorder Specialist (SDS) and vascular access experience preferred.
• Skills & Abilities: Sets appropriate priorities for acute respiratory medical-surgery and rehab patient's care needs. Must be able to successfully and effectively communicate with a variety of personnel. Organizes work while responding to changing demands. Understands and follows written and verbal instructions. Organizes work while being flexible toward changing demands. Demonstrates/possesses excellent interpersonal skills. Communicates positively, calmly and clearly in a timely manner, seeks and accepts direction. Meets all physical requirements of the job. Recognizes changes in patient condition, environment, social atmosphere that affect the patient. Is able to triage and communicate information to the team in a timely and thorough manner. Demonstrates respect and sensitivity toward individuals with disability. Ability to work collaboratively with other departments and physicians. Able to respond to crisis' and emergency situations appropriately.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Treat patients/families with dignity and respect and incorporates them as members of their care team.
• Act to uphold rights and responsibilities of patients/families.
• Privacy/confidentiality is maintained for patient and staff information.
• Observe patients when changes occur. Reports changes to the physician, nurse, therapist/s, or Director as appropriate.
• Work in collaboration with other respiratory therapists, RN's, physicians, and other team members to collect data for the patient care plan.
• Relay all pertinent information to the physician, RN, respiratory team or other team members as it affects the patient's care plan.
• Recognize changes in the patient condition that requires immediate action.
• Monitor and documents patient response to therapy.
• Assess changes in ventilation status and responds appropriately to changing patient demands.
• Sets appropriate priorities for acute respiratory medical-surgery and rehab patient's care needs.
• Provides goal-oriented therapy under guidance of Respiratory Care Protocols.
• Administer respiratory care, medications, and life support, by prescription, to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of cardiopulmonary system under supervision of physician and Director of Respiratory Care.
• Ensure safety of mechanical ventilation (both invasive and non-invasive) with assessment of prescribed settings, patient information / condition, and alarm appropriateness.
• Measure arterial blood gases, reviews patient information to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment.
• Sets-up and operates devices, such as mechanical ventilators, gas administration, aerosol generators, inhalants and other respiratory therapy devices.
• Responsible for the implementation and coordination of respiratory care procedures based on the policies and procedures of the Respiratory Care Department.
• Provide non-invasive monitoring of ventilation to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment.
• Is available to all patient requirements throughout shift, unless patient assignment has been delegated to another respiratory therapist for cross coverage.
• Provide all modalities of airway clearance therapy (deep suctioning, nasal-tracheal suctioning, assisted cough, chest vibration, deep breath and cough, huff cough, CPT etc.).
• Provide direct invasive and non-invasive respiratory care to adolescent, adult and geriatric patients with SCI and TBI.
• Administer medical gases by prescription to patients with abnormalities of cardiopulmonary system.
• Monitor oxygen use, performs routine pulse oximetry checks.
• Completely and accurately assesses patients on admission, per protocol, or on the order of a physician.
• Perform EKG testing.
• Respond to CODE Blue and all emergency calls and administers CPR. Intubates if a physician is not available. Maintains active ACLS credential.
• Transport patients to and from diagnostic testing procedures at Swedish Medical Center and other testing centers as required.
• Assist with patient outings as assigned.
• Assist physicians with bronchoscopy procedures.
• Perform bedside spirometry testing.
• Work in collaboration with the RN, and other team members to collect elements of the patient care plan and aids in the gathering and distribution of information.
• Actively educates patients and family members in disease process, treatment modalities, medications, etc. on an ongoing basis and as assigned.
• Provide respiratory education / precepts new staff hires, new respiratory care staff, nursing staff and respiratory / nursing students.

JOIN CRAIG HOSPITAL

** This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. Employee may perform other related duties as assigned.

Craig Hospital Benefits:

Benefit Eligible Positions:

At Craig Hospital we offer a wide range of outstanding benefits that allow our employees to tailor a benefits package that meets their individual needs. Planning a family or looking forward to retirement, we have options. Our medical insurance is a self-funded plan administered by Allegiance Benefit Plans with a CIGNA network of providers offering two different comprehensive plans. We offer dental insurance through Delta Dental, and vision insurance through EyeMed. Craig offers Health Care and Dependent Care Spending Accounts. Craig also provides, and pays for both Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance plans for every benefit-eligible employee. We offer generous time-off benefits to allow you to enjoy your time away from work too! Additionally, we have a 403b Retirement Plan with a generous matching contribution through Empower Retirement that you are eligible for upon hire. Want to go back to school? We have Tuition Assistance. Unexpected emergency? We have Employee Assistance Programs and an Employee Emergency Assistance Fund. At Craig, we believe in offering best-in-class benefits and prioritize benefits to support you.