Respiratory Therapist III

Respiratory Therapist III

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Under general supervision and overall direction of Respiratory leadership the Respiratory Therapist III, is responsible for the delivery of quality health care to patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies. The Respiratory Therapist III performs all roles and responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist I and II. The Respiratory therapist III assesses plans, delivers, coordinates, integrates, and evaluates respiratory care related to patient needs at a proficient level. The Respiratory therapist III contributes to the support of patients through interdisciplinary teamwork and assures that the care provided is consistent with applicable standards, regulations, statutes and state and federal law. Under the direction of the Respiratory leadership performs prompt, hemodynamic monitoring and interpretation, accurate documentation and recording of all procedural hemodynamics and equipment usage. Under the direction of the Respiratory Care leadership, performs prompt Invasive and non-invasive ventilation to help treat the compromised cardiopulmonary patient. The primary objectives are to provide optimal services to critically ill patients through the appropriate utilization of all respiratory therapeutics and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. In addition, participates in ongoing departmental research and hospital-sponsored educational activities. Objectives also include assuring a total quality experience for all patients requiring respiratory care. The Respiratory therapist III is competent to provide services to patients from birth to adult geriatric.

• To assist the provider in the restoration of normal respiratory function in acute and critically ill patients
• Must provide high quality respiratory care and hemodynamic services
• Assess patient status and take appropriate action as required
• Precept and mentor other staff members
• Prepare all equipment used during procedures, physiologic recording, and life support
• Provide high quality invasive diagnostics services for critically ill patients
• Maintains critical care proficiencies in the use and operation of various equipment and invasive and non-invasive procedures
• Assist in the education/training of other respiratory staff members, respiratory care students, providers, nursing staff and other students
• Staff member will be expected to participate in Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement initiatives, PI projects and in-services
• Act as a resource to nursing and provider staff with advanced ventilator management
• Collaborate with Intensivists, Pulmonologists, Cardiac Surgeons, General Surgeons and Neurosurgeons
• Act as a Clinical Adjunct Instructor for students from multiple Respiratory Care College programs
• Sets up, monitors and maintains continuous mechanical ventilation equipment for the treatment of patients experiencing acute, chronic or impending respiratory failure, as determined by staff feedback and leadership observation
• Applies intensive bedside respiratory therapy techniques, as determined by feedback and leadership observation
• Documents the effectiveness of all therapies administered in the medical record 100% of the time, with no more than 1 exception per month
• Assists the provider in specialized diagnostic procedures, as determined by provider feedback, leadership observation and department policy
• To assist the provider in accurately assessing and identifying acute changes in the cardiopulmonary status of critically ill patients
• Performs routine and emergency arterial blood gas punctures for the evaluation of patient's acid-base status
• Obtains venous and arterial blood gas samples as provider ordered, utilizing aseptic techniques 100% of the time as measured by feedback and leadership observation
• Successfully completes the hospital based Critical Care certification program.
• Successfully completes the hospital based arterial line program (required)
• Assists the provider during critical procedures as measured by feedback and leadership observation
• Documents accurate hemodynamic data in EMR
• Performs hemodynamic profiles and enters data into current patient monitoring system
• Performs arterial catheter insertions, as physician ordered, per department policy
• Demonstrates and teaches house staff officers, respiratory students, and nursing staff personnel in the proper methods of hemodynamic monitoring and critical care techniques measured by documentation, peer review and leadership observation
• Reports promptly any problems associated with patient hemodynamic monitoring systems to the provider in charge
• To insure that respiratory therapy is appropriately ordered throughout the hospital by participating in the respiratory care protocol system
• Evaluates patients for appropriate forms of respiratory care by hospital protocol.
• Reviews patient assessment and medical history pertinent to protocol evaluation, classify the need for respiratory care for individual patients, determined by evaluation being accepted by ordering provider
• Presents patient history and suggested therapeutic programs to provider, provides documentation and evaluations in the medical record
• Educate the patients, medical staff, respiratory, nursing and related health care students in current respiratory care procedures and theories
• Orient, in-service, and offer references to current scientific literature in respiratory care to be determined by in-service education, new employee orientation, submission of literature under leadership observation
• Participates in department yearly in-services and proficiencies and act as an active participant in monthly meetings as observed by leadership
• Respiratory Care
• Assess medical records daily for proper delivery and documentation for respiratory therapy procedures
• Performs concurrent audits during patient hospitalizations while receiving respiratory therapy
• Actively participated in Performance Improvement and Quality Assurance for Respiratory Care
• Works in consort with the leadership by reporting PI matters
• Develops and maintains a department PI/QA project and reports findings monthly and quarterly
• Laboratory testing is performed following established policies and procedures only after training and competency has been completed
• Performs and documents testing and quality control in accordance to established laboratory policies and procedures 100% of the time, as observed by supervisor and POC staff
• Maintains and documents testing reagents/supplies and equipment according to established laboratory procedures as observed by supervisor and POC staff.
• Required responsibilities for all Respiratory Care Service positions
• Maintains technical competencies within areas of responsibility by completing annual competency requirements as defined by departmental policy and documented within the department
• Understands the existing and potential hazard in the work area in such a way as to prevent injury/illness by following hospital and safety policies and procedures 100% of the time as indicated by department feedback and/or observed by leadership
• Corrects and/or reports any safety hazard or malfunctioning of equipment to leadership/charge person within their work shift as indicated by departmental feedback and/or observed by leadership
• Follows hospital and departmental policies and procedures related to compliance to assure current Medicare regulations are upheld as indicated by departmental feedback and/or observed by leadership
• Attends at least 8 of 12 department meetings. Review minutes of missed meetings and departmental communication meetings
• Utilizes equipment and supplies efficiently and prudently to maximize cost effectiveness of procedures, conserve resources and minimize waste measures by departmental feedback and/ or observed by leadership
• Monitors, receives, stores, supply levels daily and requests supplies, as to not overstock or exhaust supplies waste measures by departmental feedback and/ or observed by leadership
• Accurately charge all patients for services rendered daily through EMR system
• Cleans work areas and /or equipment each shift per established standards and procedures
• Performs similar or related duties as requested or directed

Education:

• Education level for NYS licensure as RT, required

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year as Respiratory Therapist, required
• Broad knowledge of respiratory care procedures, respiratory equipment and patient evaluation using protocol systems, required

Licensure/Certificates:

• NYS RT, required
• BLS - Basic Life Support within 6 months from date of hire, required
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support within 6 months from date of hire, required
• PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support, required
• Successful completion of Bassett's Arterial Line Program within 6 months from date of hire

Skills:

• Computer Skills
• Communication
• Interacting with People
• Reading/Writing/Comprehension

Bassett Healthcare Network