Registered Respiratory Therapist - Respiratory Therapy (0.9)
Billings Clinic

Job Info

The incumbent in this position will perform duties within defined scope of practice for specific specialty area(s) assigned. Specialty areas may include, but not limited to, Acute Care, Critical Care, LDRP/NICU, Pediatric Care, Hyperbaric Medicine, and/or Outpatient Pulmonary Physiology Lab, Outpatient Pediatric Clinic, and Outpatient Pulmonary Rehab. Based on therapy driven protocols, instructs, administers, and monitors full range of respiratory care services and treatments to patients, airway and ventilator management, emergent respiratory care, bronchoscopy assistance, bedside electrocardiograms (EKG) monitoring and testing, arterial punctures, arterial line draws, blood gas analysis, pulmonary diagnostic testing, patient education, and rehabilitation. Recognizes and reports any unusual reactions to treatment, contraindications to treatment, or inappropriate use of therapy to the healthcare and/or physician team.

Essential Job Functions

• Supports and models behaviors consistent with Billings Clinic's mission, vision, values, code of business conduct and service expectations. Meets all mandatory organizational and departmental requirements. Maintains competency in all organizational, departmental and outside agency standards as it relates to the environment, employee, patient safety or job performance.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary care team to execute a plan of care appropriate to the needs of the patients utilizing evidence based and best practice. Incorporates the respiratory process into the goal-directed plan of care for the patient.
• Adheres to Billings Clinic safety standards, policies, and practices. Anticipates and identifies problems and safety issues, then initiates appropriate action. This includes complying with hand hygiene adherence, isolation practices, clean/dirty equipment process, reassemble of equipment, and processes associated with Sterile Processing Department if needed.
• Ensures complete, accurate, and timely entry into patient medical record as indicated by patient condition and documentation guidelines, consistent with departmental policies and procedures.
• Checks and maintains respiratory therapy equipment. Maintains appropriate skill, knowledge, and application of relevant and commonly used equipment specific to the area based on disease process or physiological status.
• Ensures complete, accurate, critical value reporting, and timely entry into patient medical record for all Pulmonary Laboratory values. Performs arterial puncture, arterial line draws, and blood gas analysis consistent with departmental policies and procedures. Completes Laboratory equipment maintenance and regulatory logs as assigned.
• Takes responsibility for own professional growth, punctuality, and developmental needs. Meets all system/departmental educational, competency, and meeting requirements. Participates in departmental committees and activities to positively contribute skills and ideas for better departmental advancements and processes.
• Performs all duties dealing with floor care, Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and Pediatrics.
• Performs other duties as assigned or as needed to meet the needs of the department/service.
• Attends and participates in multidisciplinary rounds including Critical Care Service x-ray rounds. Initiates, monitors, and makes necessary changes based on provider orders or established guidelines for mechanical ventilation techniques and related procedures. Sets up and assists with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as bronchoscopy and airway management. Performs walking rounds when giving and receiving report in critical care areas. Completes all necessary logs assuring that logs and kits are checked, signed, & locked.
• Attends all high risk deliveries. Participates in multidisciplinary rounds including x-ray rounds. Initiates, monitors, and makes necessary changes based on provider orders or established guidelines for mechanical ventilation techniques and related procedures. Sets up and assists with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as surfactant administration and airway management. Performs walking rounds when giving and receiving report. Completes all necessary logs assuring that logs and kits are checked, signed, & locked.
• Performs all hyperbaric medicine duties which includes but not limited to; assessment of tympanic membranes, emergency procedures and decompression, patient assessment, operation of the chamber and all hyperbaric equipment, thorough knowledge of policies and procedures. Successful completion of tympanic membrane and safety training with ongoing competency.
• Performs PFT's (Pulmonary Function Tests), EIB's (Exercise Induced Bronchospasm testing), EIB with laryngoscopy, Methacholine Challenges and Asthma Education for pediatric patient populations.
• Educates patients and families on all aspects of outpatient respiratory care in the home (medication and equipment) in regards to asthma, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, neuromuscular diagnoses, sleep apnea and sleep hygiene, etc.
• Responsible for rooming clinic patients, taking vitals and history, reviewing medication history, schedules appointments and diagnostic tests and procedures as ordered by physician.
• Reviews sleep study results and nocturnal oximetry results and informs provider of patients who require immediate attention.
• Travels with providers to provide support for outreach clinics within the service area.
• Researches and provides articles and data regarding best practice for respiratory care and cystic fibrosis and all aspects of respiratory care. Serves as the RRT for the Adult cystic fibrosis clinic. Performs daily visits with inpatient cystic fibrosis patients (adult and pediatric). Educates patient and family on all aspects of respiratory care in regards to cystic fibrosis. Educates hospital RT's on cystic fibrosis care and assure all respiratory orders are followed.
• Assists with laryngoscopies (with or without exercise) including sterilizing scope, setup and restocking of cart and medications.
• Participates in the development of policies and procedures for the pediatric respiratory care program.
• May perform endotracheal intubation in emergent situations.
• Performs pulmonary physiology testing (i.e. blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, bronchoprovocation, pulmonary exercise stress testing, exercise induced bronchospasm testing, disability testing and metabolic testing) as per departmental policy and procedure. Calculates test results and communicates results to physicians for interpretation.
• Able to assist with inpatient bedside spirometry as schedule allows.
• Assist with QA/QI per departmentt policy and as directed.
• Able to independently or with vendor support trouble shoot all equipment in the PFT lab.
• Participates in the development of policies and procedures for the outpatient Pulmonary Physiology Lab.
• Assists with daily calibration and equipment maintenance.
• Travels with providers to provide support for outreach clinics within the service area.
• Assist with QA and QI for the Pulmonary Rehab lab.
• Assist with Pulmonary Rehab lab accreditation.