Respiratory Therapist Expert - Research

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A Brief Overview

This is a full-time, 40 weekly hour position with the Philadelphia campus that is dedicated to research related to the respiratory therapy practice. Includes evidence-based practice and research for the department. Clinical care scope included in this position.

What You Will Do

• Practice: Provides expert care using intuitive, reasoning and experience.
• Documentation reflects the evaluation of outcomes and appropriate revision of patient care provided and utilizes current hospital standards, policy and procedures.
• Possess expert mastery of respiratory care as evidenced by intuitive response to complex clinical situations.
• Determines important aspects of the clinical world as compared to patient/family needs when making clinical judgments.
• Finds ways to negotiate with medical team to ensure patient care delivered matches patient/family needs and concerns.
• Professionalism/Leadership: Establishes professional practice standards and process improvement projects.
• Holds self and others accountable for appearance and behaviors that promote a positive image of Respiratory Care.
• Mentors other respiratory therapists and holds each accountable regarding how to interact with parents, patients, and colleagues with respect and dignity.
• Mentors and holds other respiratory therapists accountable regarding how to spend the extra time with families listening for avenues to improve on the ideal patient experience and anticipate patient/family needs.
• Holds staff accountable for arriving at work on time and is ready to start the shift and plans for challenges and obstacles to minimize a negative impact on the patient, family and unit.
• Role models and mentors other respiratory therapists on providing an accurate patient status report to care team members that reflects critical thinking skills that address respiratory interventions, patient outcomes and alterations to plan of care.
• Mentors and holds staff accountable for actively participating in patient care rounds and can make recommendations to the plan of care.
• Facilitates, chairs and/or participates in unit/departmental shared governance council.
• Preceptor for novice/beginner and advanced respiratory therapists.
• Actively coaches and advises patients/families and staff in developing strategies for dealing with complex problems.
• Functions as a clinical resource for all members of health care team.
• Facilitates the efforts of a multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborates in evaluation of patient care, professional practice, and programs.
• Holds Accountability for the quality of care delivered for a defined patient population.
• Research: Incorporates research into clinical practice and participates in scientific inquiry.
• Applies research findings to practice to department and select committees.
• Reads and critically analyzes professional publications and shares information with colleagues.
• Collaborates in the design, implementation, and evaluation of interdisciplinary research.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates research and/or quality improvement activities.
• Disseminates research findings through professional presentations and/or publications.
• Learning: Acts as a consultant to enhance professional development
• Examines successes and failures to improve performance.
• Maintains a blame free environment.
• Demonstrates initiative for identifying learning needs of self and others and develops a learning plan.
• Seeks opportunities to develop, present, and evaluate educational programs within the community, as well, as, within Children's Hospital.
• Coordinates the development, implementation, and evaluation of department policies and procedures.
• Maintains membership in and contributes to work of a professional organization.
• Disseminates clinical expertise through professional presentations and/or publications.
• Attends internal education programs to meet identified learning needs and personal/professional goals. (i.e. annual competencies, skills fair.)
• Demonstrates health care informatics competency in order to manage patient care, outcome data and current and emerging health care technology, which includes:
• Basic computer competency, including the effective use of patient care devices, computers, computer software programs such as e-mail and word processing programs, and shared network file space.
• Information literacy, including the effective use of the Intranet and Internet to find electronic resources for patient care, respiratory practice and evidence-based decision-making;
• Information management skills, including the effective use of the electronic health record and clinical information systems, the ability to collect clinical data using quality tools and the ability to discuss, evaluate and analyze outcome data presented in charts and tables.
• Resource Management: Is able to teach others the appropriate utilization of financial resources and makes recommendations.
• Ensures staff compliance to systems that promote quality, efficient and cost effective care.
• Monitors department usage of supplies and equipment, solicits, and implements systems for improvement to minimize waste and/or misuse of patient supplies.
• Addresses issues and identifies solutions for enhanced staffing efficacies.
• Conducts small projects that address resource management solutions.

Education Qualifications

• Associate's Degree - Required
• Bachelor's Degree - Preferred
• Master's Degree - Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• At least five (5) years experience in the field of respiratory care - Required
• At least three (3) years experience in the care of neonatal/pediatric patients - Required

Skills and Abilities

• Informatics competencies for respiratory therapists:
• Computer Competency
• Basic use of a computers (e.g. mouse, keyboard, printer, USB ports), fax machines
• Basic use of MS Office Suite
• Use of MS Outlook email, opening attachments, attaching files to emails, and saving attached files to computer.
• Use of shared network file space.
• Basic use of patient care devices. (e.g. point of care devices, CR monitors)
• Navigation and use of Clinical communication systems
• Nurse Call system
• Ascom
• Information Literacy
• Use of Internet and Intranet to look up basic electronic resources for practice
• Ability to find and print Patient Family Education Documents
• Ability to find and navigate the Department of Respiratory Care website and related linked CHOP resource sites
• Ability to perform a literature search on the Internet and ability to find professional journal and/or research based articles
• Ability to evaluate Internet sites for reliability
• Information Management Literacy
• Navigation of electronic health records.
• Ability to locate and review specific patient data in clinical information systems and the electronic health record.
• Understanding of policies and procedures around timeliness of care, use of a clinical information system, and support of safe practice. (e.g. use of clinical pathways.)
• Ability to collect clinical data using quality improvement tools (e.g. hand hygiene).
• Understanding confidentiality and privacy regulations when using a patient electronic health record.
• Coordination of patient care information in a patient care record that utilizes multiple systems.

Licenses and Certifications

• Respiratory Therapist (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required or
• Osteopathic Respiratory Therapist (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required and
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care