Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Respiratory Therapist must be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and equipment selection to provide care appropriate to patients ranging in age from infancy, throughout adolescence, adulthood and geriatrics. The Respiratory Therapist must possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's age, and interpret the appropriate information required to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides thorough medical record documentation (eg. Patient Assessment, Care Plan, therapeutic note, pertinent laboratory data, physical findings and ventilator flow charts etc.).
Provides complete and thorough departmental documentation (eg. Treatment Card, Kardex card, Quality Assessment, order entry, results reporting, Incident and industrial accident forms etc.).
Performs all therapeutic modalities in accordance with established protocols, procedures and safety practices.
Performs ventilatory care and weaning in accordance with established policies, procedures and safety guidelines.
Demonstrates competency in the assembly, disassembly and safety checking as per manufacturer guidelines and participates in scheduled equipment changes.
Responds to Code Blue and RRT, stat pages and other medical or administrative emergencies in an immediate and timely manner with no more than one reminder per year.
Administers to patients needs within professional and ethical boundaries at all times.
Participates in employee orientation, cross training, Quality Assurance and educational endeavors as requested.
Attends all mandatory classes and strictly adheres to guidelines on a daily basis. (eg. Universal Precautions, MSDS, Fire and Safety, TD and CEU's).
Demonstrates organizational skills and establishes priorities in a manner to maintain maximum productivity and the completion of assigned tasks.
Exhibits self-directed behavior and independent problem resolution for non-complex issues.
Does not exhibit rudeness, abruptness, domineerance, abrasiveness or condescending behavior.
Presents a professional appearance and is attentive to patients rights, needs and comforts and is respectful and courteous to patients and staff at all times.
Performs preventative maintenance and run calibration buffers and gases following departmental procedures (checklist) once per shift.
Run tri-level quality controls, evaluate accuracy of results and determine acceptability of the data once per shift.
Enter result into IBM computer and comments into action log that show appropriate action taken or understanding of statistical variations once per shift.
Notify section head directly or via the Problem Assessment Communication Form when specifications are not achievable.
Troubleshoot and repair analyzers in the event of malfunction to conform with established manufacturers guidelines or departmental policy.
Performs repairs as necessary and within scope of responsibility prior to the end of shift.
Check sample to ensure proper labeling and note any pre-analytical considerations that may alter test results (eg. micro-sample, air bubble, clot, etc.)
Aspirate sample into analyzer and check position and ascertain if analysis errors exist (eg. drift, no end point, etc.) for each sample.
Enter results in log and computer noting any pre-analytical considerations and actions taken (ie. phoned results) and report results to requesters immediately.
The Respiratory Therapist must be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and equipment selection to provide the appropriate care to infants through geriatrics in age.
The Respiratory Therapist must possess the ability to access data reflective of the patients age and interpret the appropriate information required to identify each patients requirement relative to age.
Each therapist completes a competency review on a yearly basis.
Escorts patients from the waiting room into main treatment area in courteous manner as directed by the staff nurse.
Assists in transfer of patients from ambulance bay to treatment area / CPEC.
Assists patients in transferring from wheelchair to stretcher, chair to stretcher or vise versa.
Performs postmortem care according to nursing policy and procedure.
Notifies Nurse of patients wishing or attempting to leave ED prior to completion of treatment.
Accurately obtains postural vital signs.
Assembles crutches, properly measures patients and instructs patient in correct crutch walking techniques.
Correctly converts pounds to kilograms for pediatric weights.
Demonstrates ability to problem solve technical difficulties associated with accurately obtaining a 12 lead EKG.
Maintains aseptic technique when assisting RN's /MD's with sterile procedures.
Transports patients without delay to other departments prn according to safety guidelines.
Prepares patient including dressing and undressing as appropriate, for examination or procedure.
Secures/collect patient's personal effects for safe keeping.
Offers comfort measures such as pillows, blankets, H2O etc. as appropriate.
Reinforces instructions in the proper collection method for specific specimens.
Performs phlebotomy correctly as per Laboratory/ ED Protocol.
Obtains specimens including urine for analysis, culture, splits, dipstick for blood and stool cultures.
Correctly labels and completes requisitions on all specimens.
Transport ABG's and other lab specimens as needed in a timely manner.
Orders supplies to maintain inventory of supply closets/cabinets in Treatment area and CPEC at par level.
Stocks all the alcoves and IV baskets in treatment area , CPEC and ambulance bay with medical supplies and laundry at least twice per shift and PRN.
Checks expiration dates on all items; replaces out-dated items and labels newly opened bottles with "date opened" per procedure.
Reports missing or defective equipment to charge nurse.
Cleans and soaks instruments in appropriate solution per procedures of Department and Hospital.
Adheres to Universal Precautions procedures in all patient care activities.
Cleans room and stretchers after each visit and prepares the room for the next patient.
Answers telephone, stating Name and Department.
Forwards phone calls to appropriate person or takes a message.
Enters requisition using the Meditech System.
Accurately enters data such as vital signs and performed technical tasks into the medical record according to department policy.
Applies wrist/ankle restraints and posey jackets correctly.
Demonstrates ability to apply and check for safety of 4 point locked restraints.
Monitors patients for safety including suicide precautions and elopement risk management as directed by the RN.
Accurately identifies signs of escalating/disturbed behavior in-patients requiring 1:1 monitoring and
informs nurse of above signs immediately.
Maintains stretchers in locked, low position with side rails up when patients are unattended.
and keeps potentially harmful objects out of patient reach.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduate of approved program in Respiratory Therapy with Associates degree

Licensed in MA and BLS certified

Minimum of 1-year experience

Meditech experience preferred

About Steward Health Care
Nearly a decade ago, Steward Health Care System emerged as a different kind of health care company designed to usher in a new era of wellness. One that provides our patients better, more proactive care at a sustainable cost, our providers unrivaled coordination of care, and our communities greater prosperity and stability.
As the country's largest physician-led, minority-owned, integrated health care system, our doctors can be certain that we share their interests and those of their patients. Together we are on a mission to revolutionize the way health care is delivered - creating healthier lives, thriving communities and a better world.
Steward is among the nation’s largest and most successful accountable care organizations (ACO), with more than 5,500 providers and 43,000 health care professionals who care for 12.3 million patients a year through a closely integrated network of hospitals, multispecialty medical groups, urgent care centers, skilled nursing facilities and behavioral health centers.
Based in Dallas, Steward currently operates 33 hospitals across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

At Steward Health Care System, we are committed to improving the health of our communities by delivering exceptional, personalized health care with dignity, compassion and respect. Our continued focus on the patient experience informs our caregivers in how to provide care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient and family preferences, needs and values.

We dedicate ourselves in the communities we serve to delivering affordable health care to all and being responsible partners. No matter what your role, as a member of the Steward family, you are a specialist in the making every patient and family feel right at home, every co-worker a key to our success, and every referring practice, a team of prized colleagues.

In support of this, we commit ourselves to the following values:

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Excellence

Stewardship

If you are seeking a fast-paced, challenging position in an organization committed to achieving and maintaining a standard of excellence in all we do, our organization may be a good fit for you.