Lead Respiratory Therapist

Lead Respiratory Therapy

The Lead Respiratory Therapy assumes the responsibility of overseeing respiratory care personnel, coordinating operations of the department, monitoring operations of the department, working closely with the health care team to facilitate the coordination of care across the continuum. The position includes but is not limited to providing and maintaining ongoing education to respiratory care practitioners (RCP) who provide the expected standards of care and providing annual performance evaluations to the RCP. The Lead Respiratory Therapist will also hold responsibility for employee schedules, time card management and payroll management. This role is held accountable for expected knowledge and skill competencies as directed to patients from infancy to geriatrics.

The Lead Respiratory Therapist must meet all clinical Level III behaviors.

Essential Functions

Patient / Customer

• Ensures communication and collaboration with supervisors and fellow co-workers to serve patients and other customers to the best of his/her ability.
• Is professional in all actions and appearance
• Anticipates patients'/customers' needs and acts accordingly.
• Works to enhance patient satisfaction
• Analyzes problems from the customers' point of view.
• Honors patient/customer/employee confidentiality.
• Seeks feedback on how to improve performance and offers constructive feedback, as well.
• Assists patients and families
• Applies learning for improved performance.
• Demonstrates understanding and ownership of how his/her role contributes to achieving the success of the Department and the Health System.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to ensuring a clean and safe working environment.
• Uses resources wisely – as if they were one's own.

Patient/ Employee Safety Accountabilities

• Patient Care Providers
• Participates in Entity and Department wide initiatives for Patient /Employee safety
• Demonstrates an awareness of patient/ employee safety when carrying out daily responsibilities of their position.
• Validation of annual competencies required for the position

Operations

• Outcomes and Quality
• Assist with the identification, implementation, and surveillance of CEQI initiatives including protocols and guidelines and report variances
• Participate in the writing of policies and procedures for GSPP Nursing.
• Participate in hospital and divisional committees and projects.
• Compliance and Consultation
• Support's respiratory's role in team conference.
• Assist in the development and activities of the GSPP patient safety program including participation in root cause analyses and in FMEA's.
• Education
• Act as a clinical resource for the Respiratory staff, providing both formal and informal education through discussion, didactic sessions, and development of materials and programs.
• Track number of registered therapists and provide tools and guidance to encourage other respiratory to obtain this registered.
• Ensure staff are adequately trained on all equipment and procedures
• Participate in the development of patient and family education materials including maintaining and updating the educational materials on the family room PC's.
• Marketing
• Educate physicians, case managers, and other key stakeholders of GSPP and outcomes of patients served.
• Responsible for solid relationship management of these key stakeholders – both internal and external to GSPP.

Clinical Judgment and Decision making.

• Demonstrates expert judgment characterized by response based and proactive practice.

Clinical/Administrative Leadership

• Collaborates with others to improve quality and clinical effectiveness by enhancing efficiency and optimal resource use.
• Interprets and evaluates guidelines of practice as applied to individual situations.
• Demonstrates a commitment to life long learning

Internal

• Regularly meets with employees to improve communication and to build productive relationships. Evaluates and counsels employees in a manner which corrects problems and promotes the growth of the employee.
• Continuously communicates to staff the importance of patient satisfaction, quality of care, and sound financial performance; and champions our successes and priorities for improving performance in meeting and exceeding patient and customer
• Works with GSPP leadership to direct the divisional focus on service and patient satisfaction. Assists in developing programs, services and initiatives to anticipate future customer needs, build customer loyalty and generate profitable growth.

External

• Personally spends time with patients, physicians, and other health care providers to understand their respective needs and expectations, to build relationships, and to gauge patient/customer satisfaction.
• Ensures patient and customer satisfaction through comprehensive and continuous measurement of customer satisfaction for all key customer groups. Assures that patient scheduling is timely and that urgent needs are met.
• Participates in hospital benchmarking projects.
• Partners with medical leadership to provide education for students, house staff, fellows, and faculty and participates in clinical research.
• Uses community services to build productive business partnerships. Oversees all activities and practice of respiratory students having a contractual relationship with GSPP.
• Identify and participate in development activities as appropriate.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Master's Degree in related health care program preferred
• Level IV Clinical Specialists possessing an Associates Degree which were employed as a Level IV Therapist prior to July 1, 2008 are eligible for the position

Work Experience

• 4-6 years of clinical rehabilitation experience required
• 1-2 years of experience as a Level III Therapist preferred

Licenses / Certifications

• Respiratory Care license required
• Pass internal certification for all areas of care, (ICU, Acute Care) demonstrated by proficiency required
• Active membership in the American Association of Respiratory Care is required
• ACLS certification preferred; required depending upon location