The Respiratory Therapist Manager provides administrative and clinical leadership for the Respiratory Care Department at Fayette Medical Center. The manager ensures safe, effective, and high-quality patient care in alignment with hospital policies, respiratory care standards, and regulatory requirements. The role involves collaboration with the System Director of Respiratory and Medical Director to promote standardization and best practices across DCH Health System facilities.

1. Provides strategic and clinical leadership to deliver high-quality respiratory care, aligning with DCH mission, vision, and goals.
2. Collaborates with physicians, hospitalists, Medical Director, and System Director to develop and implement departmental policies, goals, and best practices.
3. Manages staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, performance evaluations, progressive discipline, and retention, fostering a culture of excellence.
4. Ensures staff competency through orientation, ongoing education, and regular department meetings.
5. Implements quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., TJC, Alabama State Board for Respiratory Care, NBRC, AARC).
6. Manages departmental budget, payroll, and resource allocation to meet patient care needs.
7. Maintains a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors, advocating for patient safety and clinical competency.
8. Performs and oversees technical procedures within the Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy scope of practice, including but not limited to:
   • Oxygen/aerosol therapy, bronchial hygiene, mechanical ventilation, blood collection/analysis, and cardiac diagnostics (e.g., ECG, stress tests).
   • Emergency procedures (e.g., tracheostomy tube replacement, airway assistance).
   • Noninvasive therapies and patient transport.
9. Communicates effectively, delegates tasks, resolves conflicts, and works collaboratively in group settings under time pressure.
10. Maintains clinical competency as a Respiratory Therapist, performing duties as needed to meet patient care demands.
11. Attends hospital and medical staff committees and ensures accurate diagnostic testing, interpretation, and billing.
12. Performs low/high-level disinfection per manufacturer’s recommendations (IFU).
13. Maintains 24/7 accountability for the Respiratory Care Department’s operations, ensuring continuous delivery of high-quality patient care, staff performance, and compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., TJC, Alabama State Board for Respiratory Care) through effective leadership, scheduling, delegation, and crisis response.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.

• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

1. Current Alabama Respiratory Therapist license and active RRT credential (NBRC).
2. Minimum of five years of clinical respiratory therapy experience with demonstrated leadership.
3. Bachelor’s degree required (or obtain within 18 months of hire).
4. BLS (upon hire) and ACLS (within 6 months) required; PALS and NRP preferred.
5. Strong communication, leadership skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint preferred).
6. Ability to meet behavioral expectations and hold self and others accountable.
7. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English fluently.

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

• Exposed to all patient care elements
• Subject to stress and fatigue. 
• Frequent kneeling and stooping
• Manual dexterity to perform patient care task

PHYSICAL FACTORS

8. Environment: Involves exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, chemicals, and hazardous materials, requiring personal protective equipment (PPE).
9. Physical: Medium work, including lifting up to 20 pounds, assisting with patients up to 350 lbs., prolonged standing/walking, swift emergency response, bending, twisting, reaching, and sensory and dexterity for equipment handling, clinical procedures, patient/equipment assessment. Requires normal or corrected vision/hearing.
10. Psychological: Demands leadership, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and effective communication under pressure with diverse groups.
11. Scheduling: Requires regular onsite presence with occasional long hours, evening/weekend shifts, or on-call availability to address urgent departmental needs, ensuring 24/7 operational accountability.
12. Technology: Uses electronic systems (e.g., email, time/attendance, intranet) and Microsoft Office for administrative tasks, budgeting, and compliance reporting.
13. Compliance: Adheres to hospital policies, regulatory standards, and infection control protocols, including equipment disinfection.
14. Must perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.