Respiratory Therapist - Outpatient

Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance, AZ 86504, USA

Closing Date:
Open Until Filled (OUF)

Hourly Range: $32.25/ Hour - $40.31/ Hour

*** APPLICANT MUST HAVE A VALID UNRESTRICTED INSURABLE DRIVERS LICENSE***

*** RESUME AND REFERENCES ARE REQUIRED***

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care Delivery:

• Performs comprehensive patient assessments to determine appropriate respiratory care interventions.
• Administers and monitors respiratory therapies in the clinic or clinical setting, when needed.
• Set up, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot respiratory care equipment.
• Assist with airway management, including intubation, extubation, suctioning, tracheostomy care, and emergency airway support.
• Participates in emergency responses for Code Blue, Rapid Response, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Monitor patient response to therapy, reports changes in patient condition to healthcare team and modifies treatment plans in accordance with physician orders, clinical protocols, and evidence-based guidelines.
• Performs respiratory care, patient education and diagnostic testing in the outpatient clinic, mobile unit and community settings.

Diagnostic and Monitoring:

• Performs arterial punctures, analyze blood gas specimens and interpret arterial blood gases.
• Obtains and/or induce sputum specimens for clinical laboratory analysis.
• Performs, administers and evaluates cardiac diagnostic studies (Electrocardiogram, Exercise Stress Test, Holter Monitor, and Cardiac Event Monitor).
• Performs, administers and evaluates pulmonary function diagnostic studies (Spirometry, Lung Volumes, DLCO, and Six Minute Walk Test).
• Performs, administers, monitors and evaluates pulse oximetry diagnostic studies and home sleep apnea tests.
• Assist with oxygen qualification testing and coordination with durable medical equipment (DME) providers.

Patient and Family

Education:

• Provides education and clinical support to patients and families about pulmonary illness, disease management, medication management, home equipment/supply use, and respiratory therapies.
• Assess patient understanding, learning readiness, and health literacy, and adapt education accordingly.
• Plan, coordinate, evaluate and participates in community outreach events, health fairs, schools, and community based programs.

Safety and Compliance:

• Performs maintenance, calibration, assembly, quality control of respiratory therapy equipment, cardiopulmonary diagnostic equipment, pulmonary function diagnostic and blood gas diagnostic equipment.
• Ensures proper cleaning, disinfection, maintenance and safe operation of respiratory equipment, completes repair requisition to Healthcare Technology Services for malfunctioning equipment.
• Comply with infection control, safety practices, licensing standards, accreditation and regulatory standards (CMS, CAP, and State Licensing Boards).
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA regulations.
• Verifies current and appropriate medical provider orders, if necessary contacts supervisor.
• Ensure compliance with documentation, coding, and billing requirements related to outpatient services.
• Participates fully in quality assurance and performance improvement process and contributes to department goals.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning and patient rounds.
• Consultant to the providers and healthcare team regarding respiratory care practices.
• Collaborate with providers, nurses, medical assistants, and clinic staff to support continuity of care.

Clinical and Technical

Competency:

• Maintain and demonstrates competency in required respiratory care skills, respiratory equipment and blood gas laboratory operations.
• Participates and completes required department and hospital training.
• Assists with training and orientation of new employees.
• Provides continuing education to hospital clinical staff on current and new developments in respiratory care.

Administrative and Support:

• Manages scheduled patient workflow efficiently.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all patient encounters in the electronic health record.
• Receives consults and orders from medical providers related to respiratory care services.
• Utilizes computers, printer, scanner, software and…