The Respiratory Therapist - Special Procedures delivers specialized diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive respiratory care to adult and pediatric patients, with primary emphasis on assisting pulmonologists in advanced pulmonary procedures, performing pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas analysis, and educating patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The role may also encompass duties of a Registered/Certified Respiratory Therapist as needed.

The Special Procedures Technologist provides diagnostic, monitoring, and rehabilitative services to adult and pediatric patients.

1. Accountability related to meeting/exceeding department goals, DCH Values, DCH Mission and Vision
2. Pulmonary Function Testing including plethysmography
3. Pulmonary Rehabilitation
4. Blood collection and analysis
5. Sputum Induction and collection
6. Noninvasive cardiopulmonary monitoring
7. Bronchoscopy, EBUS, Thoracentesis, assisting physician in other procedures as needed
8. Aerosolized medications to include hand held nebulizer, metered dose inhaler, and dry powder inhaler
9. Demonstrate leadership skills
10. Requires decision making that will affect others
11. Responsible to achieve outcomes
12. Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately
13. Ability to delegate to team members and students
14. Must be able to receive delegation
15. Address conflict and stressful situation
16. Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion
17. Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities
18. Participates in call rotation
19. Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting
20. Must be able to work in groups
21. Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work
22. Must be meet time pressure and time lines
23. Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions
24. Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.
25. Perform Low/High Level Disinfection as per manufacturer’s recommendation (IFU)
26. Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy
27. Advocate for and participant in patient safety
28. Gives rationale for actions, decisions, and clinical care, based on scientific principles, clinical practice guidelines, or successful experience
29. Patient care procedures include but not limited to the following:

• Oxygen/Aerosol Therapy
• Bronchial Hygiene
• Postural Drainage and Percussion
• Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing, VPEP, PAP
• Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation
• Cough Assist
• Aerosolized Medications
• Hand Held Nebulizer
• Metered Dose Inhaler
• Dry Powder Inhaler
• Adult/Pediatric/Neonatal Critical/Acute Care (Neonatal Intensive Care is not required)
• CPAP/BiPAP
• Mechanical ventilation including transport
• Heated High Flow Therapy
• Blood collection and analysis
• Emergency tracheostomy tube replacement
• Bedside Pulmonary Function Testing

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.
• 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.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1. Current Alabama Respiratory Care licensure.
2. Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy (Bachelor’s preferred) or certificate in Respiratory Therapy.
3. Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential (CRT acceptable with experience).
4. Minimum three (3) years of recent clinical experience as a Respiratory Therapist.
5. Preferred: Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT).
6. BLS (AHA) upon hire; ACLS (AHA) within six months of start date.
7. Strongly encouraged: Membership in professional organizations (e.g., AARC, Alabama Society for Respiratory Care).
8. Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

• Environmental Conditions: Includes exposure to human fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.
• Psychological Conditions: Includes demonstrating leadership skills. Delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Ability to lift and carry up to a maximum of 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
• Ability to run in emergency situations.
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner.
• Must have ability to feel and perceive temperatures, texture, shape and size with fingertips.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.