Respiratory Therapist- Lead

Job Category:

Allied Health

Work Shift/

Schedule:

12 Hr Morning - Afternoon

Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

The Lead Therapist, under the direct and indirect supervision of the Operations Manager or administrative supervisor, facilitates and assists with all levels of Respiratory care provided to patients within the unit or practice location. The Lead Therapist will assist Clinical Respiratory Therapist with day-to-day problem solving and will facilitate communication between care team providers. He/She coordinates, elevates and resolves problems and conflicts as they occur.

The Lead Therapist assumes shift accountability for patient flow, matching patient needs with available resources, and elevates patient safety concerns/situations as well as any other situation that is unable to be resolved during the shift. The Lead Therapist leadership role is critical to improving the quality of care provided on the individual unit/practice setting. In addition to these responsibilities, the Lead Therapist may assume all or partial staff therapist responsibilities.

The Lead Therapist is the first level of administration assigned to the unit in the absence of the Respiratory Operations Manager. The Lead Therapist participates in Peer Interviewing and Peer Evaluation. The lead Therapist is included in worked hours per patient day (WHPPD) and is assigned by self to direct patient care assignment as unit need indicates. The Lead Therapist assists in the advancement of the professional practice environment by communicating the NGHS strategic direction and focusing on activities that support the strategic direction.

Provides Respiratory involvement support for VOICE and the NDNQI quality teams including supporting team members in their professional participation. Assists with overall clinical governance and other projects as assigned.

• Licensure or other certifications: Licensed to practice as a Respiratory Therapist (Respiratory Care Professional) in the state of Georgia.

• Educational Requirements: Associates Degree

• Minimum Experience: Five (5) years of acute care or greater experience as an RRT in a hospital acute care setting

• Other: Therapist should have Respiratory Therapy training through an accredited school and successful completion of examination

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:

• Preferred
  
  Educational Requirements:
  
  Bachelors Degree

• Preferred Experience: One (1) year of supervisor/specialty experience

• Other:

• Meets all certification requirements defined by unit (i.e., BLS, NRP, PALS)

• Demonstrates strong clinical expertise and judgement

• Demonstrated leadership/Management skills and abilities

• Strong Computer skills (computer systems defined by unit)

• Demonstrates critical thinking skills

• Leadership Responsibilities:
  Understands/recognizes individual strengths and weaknesses and is willing to seek out other experts on their team when necessary. Accepts responsibility for achieving objectives through individual work activities and the outputs of the care team. Coordinates activities of patient care team on the unit. Functions as part of the leadership team directly accountable to the Operations Manager. Stays focused on the patient care, remains informed about the status of all patients.
  
  Collaborates with other health care disciplines/departments to maintain communication and provide optimal level of patient care. Provides guidance to staff members and provides feedback to the Operations Manager and/or Respiratory supervisor on staff performance. Oversees completion of unit specific administrative tasks (e.g., PI audits, code carts, bed meetings). Serves as a role model to other employees and consistently demonstrates skills and characteristics the organization values.

• Clinical/Technical- represents responsibilities of lead Therapist directly related to patient care or the technical aspects required to work on that unit. Assesses patient acuity. Assists with plans for changes in staffing or an influx of admissions or disleads. Assists staff in completing their work. Functions as a clinical resource (knowledge of key equipment and patient care deliverables for that assigned patient population(s).

• Critical Thinking competencies-represents responsibilities of the lead Therapist to demonstrate effective…