RESPIRATORY THERAPIST

divh2Respiratory Therapist/h2pThe Respiratory Therapist position will consider CRT, RRT, and all levels of career ladder. The final title and pay will be determined by education, experience, and certification. 36 HOUR OPTION AVAILABLE./ppstrongJob Summary/strong/ppThe Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) provides all modes of respiratory care and diagnostics, on physician order, within the Critical Care, General Care Medical/Surgical units, and specialty departments as required. Acts on a broad knowledge base and experience in working with physicians and other health-care providers. This is accomplished without direct supervision in most cases. The Registered Therapist may act as a resource person for other members of the department./ppstrongEssential Job Functions/strong/pulliPerformance of Technical Practice ulliProvides highly technical Respiratory Care procedures in any environment following unit specific orientation/liliInitiates and maintains ventilator management for patient on life support except at Westmoreland Manor./liliPerforms arterial puncture and blood gas analysis./liliProvides cardiopulmonary resuscitation for all age groups served./liliMaintains and monitors the function of all Respiratory Care equipment in use./liliActs as a resource to other health care providers, regarding clinical issues./li/ul/liliPatient Care ulliAssesses patients for require respiratory care services. Reassesses daily or as often as necessary./liliAdministers inhaled medications, monitors patient reaction to medication, reports response and/or adverse reaction to nurse and physician./liliProvides patient and family or care giver with education related to disease process or dysfunction, therapy ordered, medication, dosage, methods and equipment use and functions./liliParticipates in interdisciplinary care-planning process as required by various nursing or patient care units, and in discharge planning process as needed./li/ul/liliClinical decision-Making ulliAssimilates large quantities of data while caring for critically ill patients./liliModifies and directs respiratory care procedures and diagnostics, based on acquired data and patient clinical findings./liliAssists with the coordination of patient care relating to cardiopulmonary dysfunction, in co-operation with the physician, nurse, and other health care providers./li/ul/liliPolicy and Procedure ulliUnderstands department policy and procedure to assure compliance with same./liliAvoids deviation from policy and/or procedure preventing the potential for adverse effect either on an employee, patient or visitor./liliReviews departmental policy and procedure on an annual basis and make recommendations for appropriate changes./li/ul/liliCommunication ulliProvides clear, concise, organized written and oral communication to management and staff./liliInteracts effectively with physicians, patients, management and co-workers./liliDocuments in a neat, timely and legible fashion as appropriate./liliDocuments in EMR per department guidelines./liliServes as a liaison and positive role model to other departments./liliCommunicates directly with physician regarding patient respiratory status, recommendations for therapy, and diagnostic testing./li/ul/liliTakes and transcribes verbal and telephone orders from physicians./liliMaintain supply and inventory in assigned areas./liliNotifies appropriate personnel of stock depletion as it occurs./liliKeeps department and other areas of responsibility clean and orderly./liliOther duties as assigned./li/ulpstrongSpecialty Functions/strong/pulliInformation Processing ulliTranscribes and carries out orders correctly./liliUtilizes all applicable information systems appropriately./liliCharges equipment, supplies and services accurately./li/ul/liliQuality Assessment and Improvement ulliDemonstrates ongoing awareness and participation in quality improvement program./liliResponds with improved performance to results obtained from QA monitors./liliIdentifies problems and reports to manager when appropriate./li/ul/liliLocates and uses reference manuals ulliMaintains a working knowledge of department and system policy and procedure./liliLocates and uses department and system protocols, procedures, and policy manuals such as infection control, MSDS, OSHA, and on line policy manuals./li/ul/liliPerforms specialized procedures, tasks, and functions. These may vary between entities and not all RCPs will perform these functions. Specialized orientation/training will be provided to RCPs performing the following tasks. ulliPerforms therapeutic and diagnostic bronchoscopy procedures./liliCompletes blood gas and electrolyte analysis./liliPerforms all required diagnostic pulmonary function testing./liliCompletes pulmonary stress and metabolic testing./liliFunctions as a member of the Rapid Response team./liliParticipates as an integral member of emergency resuscitation teams serving all age groups./liliPerforms EKGs./liliPerforms Intravenous Catheter Insertion and Phlebotomy on Patients./li/ul/li/ulpstrongRequired Qualifications/strong/pulliCompletion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Program/liliGraduate of JRCRTE approved respiratory care program with minimum of three (3) to six (6) months of clinical rotations./liliStrong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment./liliStrong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience./liliMedical Terminology/liliBasic Math and Keyboard Proficiency/liliFunctional Skills on PC and Related Software (Microsoft Office)/liliKnowledge of basic Office Equipment such as copier, fax machine, etc./liliStrong time management; ability to work independently and in a team setting; creativity in treatment in various settings including inpatient, skilled nursing and outpatient clinics; ability to transition smoothly between various treatment settings; flexibility in scheduling./liliAbility to communicate with all members of the health care team./liliAbility to multi-task and prioritize assignments./li/ulpstrongPreferred Qualifications/strong/pulliCritical Care Experience/liliACLS/liliExperience in Pulmonary Function testing, bronchoscopies, blood gas analysis, and neonatal mechanical ventilation./liliNeonatal resuscitation course./liliPALS/liliFor a long-term care facility, one (1) -two (2) years prior experience in a long-term care facility./li/ulpstrongLicense, Certification Clearances/strong/pulliCurrent licensure to practice in the State of Pennsylvania/liliCurrent Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program./liliAct 33 with renewal/liliAct 34 with renewal/liliAct 73 FBI Clearance/li/ulpstrongSupervisory Responsibilities/strong/pulliThis position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department./li/ulpstrongPosition Type/Expected Hours of Work/strong/pulliIncumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.)./liliTravel may be expected locally between Independence Health System locations./li/ulpstrongAAP/EEO/strong/pulliIndependence Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Independence Health System to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Independence Health System will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all/li/ul/div